Galangin induced antitumor effects in human kidney tumor cells mediated via mitochondrial mediated apoptosis, inhibition of cell migration and invasion and targeting PI3K/ AKT/mTOR signalling pathway

Galangin is an important flavonoid that has been reported to be of immense pharmacological importance. It has been shown to have a number of bioactivities which range from anticancer to antimicrobial. In this study the effects of Galangin were studied on the proliferation of the A498 kidney cancer cells.The antiproliferative effects were tested by MTT assay. Apoptosis was checked by subjecting the A498 cell to DAPI and annexin V/PI double staining. The effect on the cell migration and invasion was assessed by Boyden chamber assays. The expression of the apoptosis-related proteins was examined by western blot analysis.Galangin inhibited the proliferation of the kidney cancer A498 cells. The IC50 of Galangin against the A498 cancer cells was 15 μM. The anticancer effects of Galangin were due to induction of apoptosis in the A498 cancer cells as indicated by DAPI and annexin V/PI staining. Furthermore, Galangin could increase the expression of Bax, Cyt-c and decrease the expression of Bcl-2. Galangin could also inhibit the migration and invasion of the kidney cancer cells and also suppress the expression of some of the important proteins of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway.In conclusion, Galangin could prove a useful new molecule in the treatment of kidney carcinoma.