The effect of extract of Dunaliella salina L. on expression of anti-apoptotic BCL2 in Hela cell line

Background: After breast cancer, cervix neoplasm is the most common disease among young women. Nowadays, natural substances are used in the treatment of diseases, because of the known side effects of the chemical drugs. Dunaliella is a green alga that lives in the saltwater lakes of Iran and is abundant in antioxidant substances. This paper aimed to study the effect of Dunaliella extract on the expression of the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 gene in Hela cell line. Expression of this gene is increased during cancer. It is expected that gene expression will be reduced if the alga extract is effective.

Methods: Hela was prepared from the Center for Genetic and Biological Reserves of Iran and cultured. After culture, cells were divided into two treatment and control groups. Different concentrations of algae extract were applied to the treatment group for 48 hours. Then its toxicity was measured using MTT assay and IC50 was determined. RNA was extracted from cells of two groups, to determine the relative amount of gene expression at a concentration of IC50. Then Real-time PCR was used.

Results: The result of Real-time PCR showed that the relative expression of BCL-2, in treatment group cells that were affected by algae extract, was four times lower than the control group. Since the P-value is less than 0.05 (P-value = 0), this decrease is significant.

Conclusion: After 48 hours, at a concentration of IC50 of algae extract, the relative expression of BCL-2 was four times lower than control group.