Hyperoside and rutin of Nelumbo nucifera induce mitochondrial apoptosis through a caspase-dependent mechanism in HT-29 human colon cancer cells

Abstract

The present study demonstrates the mechanism of 2 flavonol glycosides, hyperoside and rutin, in the induction of apoptosis in HT-29 human colon cancer cells through the bioactivity-guided fractionation and isolation method. The chemical structure of hyperoside and rutin, isolated from the roots of Nelumbo nucifera, were established using extensive 1- and 2-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance experiments and absolute high resolution fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry, ultraviolet‑visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectral analytical methods. The treatment of HT‑29 colon cancer cells with hyperoside and rutin significantly decreased cell viability in a dose‑dependent manner. The concomitant activation of the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway of hyperoside and rutin occurred via modulation of Bcl-2-associated X protein and B-cell lymphoma 2 expression, resulting in the activation of cleaved caspases-3, -8 and -9 and cleaved poly‑(ADP‑ribose) polymerase. The findings of the present study indicate that hyperoside and rutin induce apoptosis in HT‑29 human colon cancer cells, and that this phenomenon is mediated via the death receptor‑mediated and mitochondria‑mediated apoptotic pathways. These results suggest that hyperoside and rutin may be useful in the development of a colon cancer therapy protocol.