Inhibitory Effects of Cichorium Intybus Root Extract on the Proliferation and Lipogenesis of the SKBR3 Cells

[Background]Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is a key enzyme in de novo lipogenesis pathway. FASN overexpression is a common feature of many human cancers like breast cancer. Furthermore, FASN expression in HER2 - positive cell lines like SKBR3 is more than other cell lines, such as MCF - 7, which are not HER2 - positive. Cichorium intybus is a medicinal herb and methanolic extract of this plant significantly suppressed cell viability and growth in some cancer cells.[Objectives]In this study, we aimed at investigating the effect of methanolic extract of Cichorium intybus on the FASN expression and, therefore, lipogenesis pathway in human breast cancer SKBR3 cell line.[Methods]We assessed the cytotoxicity effect of Chicorium intybus on the cell viability of SKBR3 cells, using MTT assay. In addition, apoptosis rate was assessed by annexinV/PI flow cytometry. Finally, Real time q - PCR was used for the analysis of FASN gene expression.[Results]The results showed that the methanolic extract of Cichorium intybus caused a dose - dependent decrease in the cell viability of SKBR3 cells. Additionally, the treatment of confluent SKBR3 cells with extract led to reduced FASN expression at mRNA level.[Conclusions]These results suggest that Chicorium intybus not only inhibits cell viability in a dose - dependent manner, but also presumably inhibits lipogenesis by markedly decreased FASN expression as a key lipogenic enzyme.