Gallic Acid as a Cancer-Selective Agent Induces Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Background: Gallic acid (GA) is a plant phenol isolated from water caltrop which is reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. In this study, the antiproliferative effect of GA on human pancreatic cancer cell lines CFPAC-1 and MiaPaCa-2 as well as hepatocytes HL-7702 as normal cells was examined. Particularly, the mechanism of GA-induced apoptosis in MiaPaCa-2 cells in vitro was further studied. Methods: Cell viability was measured using SRB assay, and apoptosis was detected by Hoechst staining and annexin V-PI staining assays. Mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by rhodamine-123 staining. Flow cytometry analysis was employed to detect the apoptosis-related events. Results: GA inhibited the proliferation of CFPAC-1 and MiaPaCa-2 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner, with IC50S of 102.3 +/- 2.4 and 135.2 +/- 0.6 mu M at 48 h, respectively. GA treatment led to the increased proportion of cell apoptosis from 12.5 +/- 0.72 to 78.3 +/- 2.48% at the concentrations of 6.25 and 25.0 mu g/ml, which was evidenced again by chromatins staining assay. Also, GA activated caspase-3, caspase-9, and reactive oxygen species, elevated Bax expression and [Ca2+](i) and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta Psi m) in MiaPaCa-2 cells. Remarkably, when compared with human normal cells HL-7702 (IC50 > 100 mu g/ml), GA showed selective toxicity for cancer cells. Conclusions: GA can function as a cancer-selective agent by inducing apoptosis in MiaPaCa-2 cells via the mitochondria-mediated pathways. To the best of our knowledge, GA should open up new opportunities for the therapy of pancreatic cancer. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel