Chalepin: A Compound from Ruta angustifolia L. Pers Exhibits Cell Cycle Arrest at S phases, Suppresses Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-κB) Pathway, Signal Transducer and Activation of Transcription 3 (STAT3) Phosphorylation and Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Carcinoma (A549)

Background: Plants have been a major source of inspiration in developing novel drug compounds in the treatment of various diseases that afflict human beings worldwide. Ruta angustifolia L. Pers known locally as Garuda has been conventionally used for various medicinal purposes such as in the treatment of cancer. Objective: A dihydrofuranocoumarin named chalepin, which was isolated from the chloroform extract of the plant, was tested on its ability to inhibit molecular pathways of human lung carcinoma (A549) cells. Materials and Methods: Cell cycle analysis and caspase 8 activation were conducted using a flow cytometer, and protein expressions in molecular pathways were determined using Western blot technique. Results: Cell cycle analysis showed that cell cycle was arrested at the S phase. Further studies using Western blotting technique showed that cell cycle‑related proteins such as cyclins, cyclin‑dependent kinases (CDKs), and inhibitors of CDKs correspond to a cell cycle arrest at the S phase. Chalepin also showed inhibition in the expression of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins. Nuclear factor‑kappa B (NF‑κB) pathway, signal transducer and activation of transcription 3 (STAT‑3), cyclooxygenase‑2, and c‑myc were also downregulated upon treatment with chalepin. Chalepin was found to induce extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Death receptors 4 and 5 showed a dramatic upregulation at 24 h. Analysis of activation of caspase 8 with the flow cytometer showed an increase in activity in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner. Activation of caspase 8 induced cleavage of BH3‑interacting domain death agonist, which initiated a mitochondrial‑dependent or ‑independent apoptosis. Conclusion: Chalepin causes S phase cell cycle arrest, NF‑κB pathway inhibition, and STAT‑3 inhibition, induces extrinsic apoptotic pathway, and could be an excellent chemotherapeutic agent.