The Inhibitory Effects of Vanillin on the Growth of Melanoma by Reducing Nuclear Factor‑κB Activation

Melanoma is skin cancer, and the treatments are not efficient enough. Therefore, finding new drugs seems to be an essential need. Vanillin, which is extracted from vanilla seed, has anti‑cancer effects by reducing nuclear factor‑κB (NF). We explored the anti‑tumor effects of vanillin in the melanoma model and its possible mechanism.

In the MTT assay, mice melanoma cells (B16F10) were treated with vanillin (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 μg/mL) for 24 and 48 h. In an animal model, B16F10 was subcutaneously injected into C57BL/6 mice. After the development of tumors, the mice were treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg/day of vanillin for 10 days. The tumor size and expression level of NF‑κB protein were measured.

In the MTT assay, vanillin in all concentrations significantly decreased B16F10 cell viability after 24 h incubation. The size of melanoma tumors was reduced in both doses 50 and 100 mg/kg/day in mice. NF‑κB protein expression was decreased in the 100 mg/kg/day group in comparison with the control group.

We found that vanillin by reducing NF‑κB expression may have anti‑tumor effects and reduced melanoma tumor size and cell viability.