Cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic Effects of Spirulina Platensis Extract on PC-3 Prostate Adenocarcinoma Cell Line

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men, with an increasing incidence and mortality rate. In the present study, cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of spirulina platensis extract on PC-3 prostate adenocarcinoma cell line were investigated.

In the present experimental study, the PC-3 prostatic cancer cells were treated in four experimental   with 400, 200, 100 and 50 μg / ml extract of spirulina and incubated at 24 and 48 hours. Cytotoxicity was analyzed by MTS kit (3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-Carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-Sulfophenyl)-2H-Tetrazolium, Inner Salt) and apoptosis was analyzed by flow- cytometry using an Annexin V-FITC/PI kit according to the manufacturer protocol in both times. Statistical analysis was accomplished by ANOVA and Duncan tests using FlowJo and SPSS 16 software.

In the experimental groups treated with extract of spirulina, the  viability of the cells showed a decrease compared to control group, while this decrease was more noticeable in the experimental group of 100 μg / ml at both incubation times (<0.0071).Increased incidence of apoptosis was significantly higher in the experimental groups than the control group. However, this increase was significantly higher than the control group at concentrations of 200 μg / ml in 24h incubation time (Ƥ < 0.0331) and 100 μg / ml of 48h incubation time (Ƥ < 0.0502).

Extract of Spirulina at specific concentrations reduced cell growth and induced apoptosis in PC-3 prostatic cancer cells. Evidence suggests that spirulina can be used as an anticancer drug for the treatment of prostate cancer.