Antitumor activity of gossypol polyphenol is mediated through apoptosis induction and sub-G1 cell cycle arrest in SEG-1 human esophageal cancer cell line.

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the antitumor effects of gossypol in human esophageal cancer cells (SEG-1) by studying its effects on apoptosis induction and cell cycle phase distribution. Gossypol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic aldehyde with numerous biological activities. MTT assay was used to demonstrate the cytotoxic effect of gossypol while as fluorescence and scanning electron microscopic techniques were employed to study the effect of gossypol on cellular morphology. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the effects on cell cycle phase distribution and apoptosis induced by gossypol. Results showed that gossypol exhibited significant and time dependent cytotoxicity against the cancer cells. With increase in gossypol dose there was an increase in number of cells that were stained orange and red which is an indication of apoptosis. Gossypol treatment at lower doses have shown surface projections and blebbing of the membrane while as, at higher doses apoptotic bodies were found. In addition it has shown to induce sub-G1 cell cycle arrest