Differential Cytotoxicity of Penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose in Human Cancer and Normal Cell Lines of Various Origins

Abstract

The present study examined the cytotoxic effects of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (PGG), known as the pentahydroxy gallic acid ester of glucose, in the various human cancer cell lines (A-549, MDA-MB-231, U87-MG, MCF-7 and PANC-1), normal MRC-5 fetal fibroblasts, and dental papilla tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (DPSCs). Significantly (p<0.05) lower half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were observed in the A-549 and MDA-MB-231 cells showing a high proliferation capacity, compared with other cancer and normal cell lines with a relatively low proliferation capacity. The population doubling time (PDT) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the 10 μM PGG- treated cell lines than those of untreated control cell lines. The present study demonstrated that the IC50 value increases proportionally to the extending PDT. A high cell number with senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity was also observed in the 10 μM PGG-treated cells compared with those of untreated control cells. Moreover, the level of telomerase activity was significantly (p<0.05) decreased with 10 μM PGG treatment, especially in A-549 and MDA-MB-231 cells showing a high proliferation capacity. Based on these observations, PGG could serve as a potent agent for cancer chemotherapy, as its treatment was more effective in cells with a high proliferation capacity.