RNA sequencing identified novel target genes for <i>Adansonia digitata</i> in breast and colon cancer cells

Abstract

<i>Adansonia digitata</i> exhibits numerous beneficial effects. In the current study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of four different extracts of <i>A. digitata</i> (polar and non-polar extracts of fruit powder and fibers) on the proliferation of human colon cancer (HCT116), human breast cancer (MCF-7), and human ovarian cancer (OVCAR-3 and OVCAR-4) cell lines. RNA sequencing revealed the influence of the effective <i>A. digitata</i> fraction on the gene expression profiles of responsive cells. The results indicated that only the polar extract of the <i>A. digitata</i> fibers exhibited anti-proliferative activities against HCT116 and MCF-7 cells, but not ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, the polar extract of the fibers resulted in the modulation of the expression of multiple genes in HCT116 and MCF-7 cells. We propose that casein kinase 2 alpha 3 (<i>CSNK2A3</i>) is a novel casein kinase 2 (<i>CSNK2</i>) isoform in HCT116 cells and report, for the first time, the potential involvement of FYVE, RhoGEF, and PH domain-containing 3 (<i>FGD3</i>) in colon cancer. Together, these findings provide evidence supporting the anti-cancer potential of the polar extract of <i>A. digitata</i> fibers in this experimental model of breast and colon cancers.