An İn vitro Study on Anticancer Activity of Noscapine

Aims: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women and ranks second among the causes of female death in the world. In order to find a solution to breast cancer, different studies are being conducted for the treatment and the effects of different drugs and substances on this disease are intensively investigated. Boric acid has been shown to control the proliferation of certain types of cancer cells.Noscapine is one of the ingredients in Papaver somniferum (opium). It was first isolated from Papaver somniferum (opium) in 1817. It is one of the most abundant opioids found in the opium plant (up to 10% of the total composition) after morphine. It is also known as Narcotine, Nectodon, Nospen, Anarcotine, and (archaic) Opiane and occurs in the (-)α isomer which has S, R stereochemistry (S stereochemistry at phthalide-carbon and R at isoquinoline-carbon). Noscapine is structurally and chemically different from other opium alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine, and narceine.

Materials and Methods: Based on this information, this study was conducted in vitro to optimize the pure form of noscapine (obtained from the poppy capsule) by applying different concentrations on MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. HPLC technique which is one of the most widely analytical techniques has been used in this study. Determination of the LD50 value and cell proliferation by viability test was also performed to investigate the predicted effects of noscapine on MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines using VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) and PARP (Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase) Analysis.

Discussion: According to the results, it was observed in proliferation experiment that the vitality values decreased in direct proportion to the concentration and time at concentrations of 5 ppm, 10 ppm, 25 ppm, 50 ppm, 75 ppm, and 100 ppm. The LD50 value was determined as 50 ppm. There was no significant difference in VEGF values. It was also observed that the PARP level was lower than control group.

Conclusion: As a result of the vitality test performed with the CCK-8 kit, it was determined that noscapine has an antiproliferative effect in various concentrations. The low PARP data in the noscapine groups suggests that the cell goes to apoptotic death.