Potential colon cancer treatment studied with electrophoresis

Scientists have conducted a study to examine the effect of maslinic acid on colon cancer.

Published in BMC Cancer, the research was carried out by a team of six scientists to investigate the substance's apoptotic molecular mechanism.

Explaining that maslinic acid is found in the waxy coating of leaves, the team commented that its inhibition of cell reproduction has been noted previously.

The effects of the substance on HT29 adenocarcinoma cells were studied using single-cell gel electrophoresis.

This allowed the scientists to spot changes in the cells' genotoxicity exerted by the maslinic acid.

Discovering that the compound's impact against tumours may be through p53-mediated apoptosis, the team also revealed that cells showed significant cell cycle arrest after 72 hours and 96 hours.

The researchers stated the results indicate that "maslinic acid induces apoptosis in human HT29 colon cancer cells through the JNK-Bid-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway via the activation of p53".

BMC Cancer is an online open-access journal that publishes peer-reviewed research papers covering various disciplines within the study of the illness.