Olgun ve Ham İncir Ekstrelerinin Kolorektal Kanser Hücrelerinde Sitotoksisite, İnvazyon ve Apoptoz Üzerindeki Düzenleyici Etkileri
Year 2025,
Volume: 10 Issue: 6, 1020 - 1030, 30.11.2025
Zeynep Doğru
,
Mehmet Akbulut
,
Hüsamettin Vatansev
,
Serdar Karakurt
Abstract
Kolorektal kanser (CRC), en ölümcül malignitelerden biri olmaya devam etmekte ve yeni terapötik stratejilere duyulan ihtiyacı ortaya koymaktadır. Ficus carica L. (incir) tıbbi özellikleriyle bilinse de CRC hücreleri üzerindeki etkileri yeterince araştırılmamıştır. Bu çalışmada olgun ve ham incir ekstrelerinin sitotoksik, anti-invaziv ve apoptotik aktiviteleri incelenmiştir. Metanol ve su ekstreleri toplam fenolik madde içeriği ve antioksidan kapasite açısından analiz edilmiştir. CRC hücreleri (HT-29 ve DLD-1) üzerindeki sitotoksisite Alamar Blue testi ile değerlendirilmiş, normal hücre kontrolü olarak PNT1A prostat epitel hücreleri kullanılmıştır. Hücre invazyonu Matrigel kaplı transwell odacıkları ile, apoptoz akış sitometrisi ile, moleküler değişiklikler ise Bax, Bcl-2 ve NF-κB’yi hedefleyen qRT-PCR ve Western blot yöntemleri ile incelenmiştir. Ham-metanol ekstresi en yüksek fenolik içerik ve antioksidan aktivite göstermesine rağmen sınırlı sitotoksisite sergilemiştir. Buna karşılık olgun-su ekstresi CRC hücrelerinde proliferasyonu baskılarken normal hücreleri korumuştur. Bu ekstre DLD-1 hücrelerinde invazyonu inhibe etmiş, ancak HT-29 hücrelerinde artırmıştır. Apoptoz HT-29 hücrelerinde belirgin şekilde indüklenmezken, DLD-1 hücrelerinde orta düzeyde artış göstermiştir. Gen ve protein düzeyinde elde edilen veriler, apoptotik ve inflamatuvar belirteçlerin ekstraktlara bağlı olarak modüle edildiğini, ancak mRNA ile protein düzeyleri arasında bazı tutarsızlıklar bulunduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Genel olarak bu bulgular, incir ekstrelerinin terapötik potansiyelini ve biyoaktiviteyi belirlemede olgunlaşma evresi ile çözücü seçiminin önemini vurgulamaktadır.
Ethical Statement
Bu çalışma, yalnızca hücre hatları kullanılarak yapılan in vitro deneylere dayanmaktadır; kurumsal etik standartlara uygun olarak gerçekleştirilmiş olup, önceden etik kurul onayı gerektirmemektedir.
Supporting Institution
Selçuk Üniversitesi
Project Number
16202041, 17401051
Thanks
Bu çalışma, 16202041 ve 17401051 numaralı projeler kapsamında Selçuk Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Fonu tarafından desteklenmiştir.
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(1995). Use of a free radical method to evaluate
antioxidant activity. LWT-Food science and
Technology, 28(1), 25-30. DOI: 10.1016/S0023-
6438(95)80008-5
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cancer-what, when and how?. Annals of Oncology,
17(9), 1347-1359. DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdl029
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Chen, C., Edelstein, L. C., & Gélinas, C. (2000). The Rel/NF-
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inhibitor Bcl-xL. Molecular and cellular biology,
20(8), 2687-2695. DOI: 10.1128/MCB.20.8.2687-
2695.2000
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Chung, S.S., Wu, Y., Okobi, Q., Adekoya, D., Atefi, M.,
Clarke, O., ..., & Vadgama, J.V. (2017).
Proinflammatory cytokines IL‐6 and TNF‐α increased
telomerase activity through NF‐κB/STAT1/STAT3
activation, and withaferin a inhibited the signaling in
colorectal cancer cells. Mediators of inflammation,
2017(1), 5958429. DOI: 10.1155/2017/5958429
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Çalişkan, O., & Polat, A.A. (2011). Phytochemical and
antioxidant properties of selected fig (Ficus carica L.)
accessions from the eastern Mediterranean region of
Turkey. Scientia Horticulturae, 128(4), 473-478. DOI:
10.1016/j.scienta.2011.02.023
-
Davis, P.H. (1965-1988). Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean
Islands. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, (Vols.
I-X).
-
Do, Q.D., Angkawijaya, A.E., Tran-Nguyen, P.L., Huynh,
L.H., Soetaredjo, F.E., Ismadji, S., & Ju, Y.H.
(2014). Effect of extraction solvent on total phenol
content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant
activity of Limnophila aromatica. Journal of food and
drug analysis, 22(3), 296-302. DOI:
10.1016/j.jfda.2013.11.001
-
Ercisli, S., Tosun, M., Karlidag, H., Dzubur, A., Hadziabulic,
S., & Aliman, Y. (2012). Color and antioxidant
characteristics of some fresh fig (Ficus carica L.)
genotypes from Northeastern Turkey. Plant Foods for
Human Nutrition, 67(3), 271-276. DOI:
10.1007/s11130-012-0292-2
-
Fan, Y., Mao, R., & Yang, J. (2013). NF-κB and STAT3
signaling pathways collaboratively link inflammation
to cancer. Protein & cell, 4(3), 176-185. DOI:
10.1007/s13238-013-2084-3
-
Gozuacik, D., & Kimchi, A. (2004). Autophagy as a cell death
and tumor suppressor mechanism. Oncogene, 23(16),
2891-2906. DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1207521
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Grivennikov, S. I., & Karin, M. (2010). Dangerous liaisons:
STAT3 and NF-κB collaboration and crosstalk in
cancer. Cytokine & growth factor reviews, 21(1), 11-19.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2009.11.005
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Hacımüftüoğlu, E., Shadidizaji, A., Cinisli, K.T., &
Karakaya, S. (2025). From ancient wisdom to modern
medicine: the cultural and therapeutic significance of
Ficus carica L. (Moraceae) extracts in colorectal cancer
treatment. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry,
49(2), 405-414. DOI: 10.55730/1300-011X.3274
-
Hristova, N.R., Tagscherer, K.E., Fassl, A., Kopitz, J., &
Roth, W. (2013). Notch1-dependent regulation of p27
determines cell fate in colorectal cancer. International
journal of oncology, 43(6), 1967-1975. DOI:
10.3892/ijo.2013.2140
-
Kebal, L., Djebli, N., Pokajewicz, K., Mostefa, N., &
Wieczorek, P.P. (2024). Antioxidant activity and
effectiveness of fig extract in counteracting carbon
tetrachloride-induced oxidative damage in rats.
Molecules, 29(9), 1997. DOI:
10.3390/molecules29091997
-
Meng, R.D., Shelton, C.C., Li, Y.M., Qin, L.X., Notterman,
D., Paty, P.B., & Schwartz, G.K. (2009). γ-Secretase
inhibitors abrogate oxaliplatin-induced activation of the
Notch-1 signaling pathway in colon cancer cells
resulting in enhanced chemosensitivity. Cancer
Research, 69(2), 573-582. DOI: 10.1158/0008-
5472.CAN-08-2088
-
Meziant, L., Benchikh, Y., & Louaileche, H. (2014).
Deployment of response surface methodology to
optimize recovery of dark fresh fig (Ficus carica L.,
var. Azenjar) total phenolic compounds and antioxidant
activity. Food Chemistry, 162, 277-282. DOI:
10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.04.054
-
Ou, A., Zhao, X., & Lu, Z. (2022). Autophagy is involved in
Ficus carica fruit extract-induced anti-tumor effects on
pancreatic cancer. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy,
150, 112966. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112966
-
Prieto, P., Pineda, M., & Aguilar, M. (1999).
Spectrophotometric quantitation of antioxidant
capacity through the formation of a
phosphomolybdenum complex: specific application to
the determination of vitamin E. Analytical
Biochemistry, 269(2), 337-341. DOI:
10.1006/abio.1999.4019
-
Purnamasari, R., Winarni, D., Permanasari, A.A., Agustina,
E., Hayaza, S., & Darmanto, W. (2019). Anticancer
activity of methanol extract of Ficus carica leaves and
fruits against proliferation, apoptosis, and necrosis in
Huh7it cells. Cancer Informatics, 18,
1176935119842576. DOI:
10.1177/1176935119842576
-
Slinkard, K., & Singleton, V.L. (1977). Total phenol analysis:
automation and comparison with manual methods.
American journal of enology and viticulture, 28(1), 49-
55. DOI: 10.5344/ajev.1977.28.1.49
-
Soltana, H., Pinon, A., Limami, Y., Zaid, Y., Khalki, L., Zaid,
N., ..., & Hammami, M. (2019). Antitumoral activity
of Ficus carica L. on colorectal cancer cell lines.
Cellular and Molecular Biology, 65(6), 6-11. DOI:
10.14715/cmb/2019.65.6.2
-
Sung, H., Ferlay, J., Siegel, R. L., Laversanne, M.,
Soerjomataram, I., Jemal, A., & Bray, F. (2021).
Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates
of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in
185 countries. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians,
71(3), 209-249. DOI: 10.3322/caac.21660
-
Tikent, A., Laaraj, S., Bouddine, T., Chebaibi, M., Bouhrim,
M., Elfazazi, K., Alqahtani, A.S., Noman, O. M.,
Hajji, L., Rhazi, L., Elamrani, A., & Addi, M.
(2024). Antioxidant potential, antimicrobial activity,
polyphenol profile analysis, and cytotoxicity against
breast cancer cell lines of hydro-ethanolic extracts of
leaves of Ficus carica L. from Eastern Morocco.
Frontiers in Chemistry, 12, 1505473. DOI:
10.3389/fchem.2024.1505473
-
Veberic, R., Jakopic, J., & Stampar, F. (2008). Internal fruit
quality of figs (Ficus carica L.) in the Northern
Mediterranean Region. Italian Journal of Food
Science, 20(2), 255-262.
-
Vinson, J.A., Zubik, L., Bose, P., Samman, N., & Proch, J.
(2005). Dried fruits: excellent in vitro and in vivo
antioxidants. Journal of the American College of
Nutrition, 24(1), 44-50. DOI:
10.1080/07315724.2005.10719442
-
Wu, W.K., Wang, X.J., Cheng, A.S., Luo, M.X., Ng, S.S., To,
K.F., ..., & Yu, J. (2013). Dysregulation and crosstalk
of cellular signaling pathways in colon carcinogenesis.
Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 86(3), 251-
277. DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2012.11.009
Ripe and Unripe Fig Extracts Modulate Cytotoxicity, Invasion, and Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer Cells
Year 2025,
Volume: 10 Issue: 6, 1020 - 1030, 30.11.2025
Zeynep Doğru
,
Mehmet Akbulut
,
Hüsamettin Vatansev
,
Serdar Karakurt
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the deadliest malignancies, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Ficus carica L. (fig) has recognized medicinal properties, yet its effects on CRC cells are insufficiently studied. This research examined the cytotoxic, anti-invasive, and apoptotic activities of ripe and unripe fig extracts. Methanol and water extracts were analyzed for total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Cytotoxicity against HT-29 and DLD-1 CRC cells was assessed with the Alamar Blue assay, using PNT1A prostate epithelial cells as non-malignant controls. Cell invasion was tested in Matrigel-coated transwell chambers, apoptosis by flow cytometry, and molecular changes by qRT-PCR and Western blot targeting Bax, Bcl-2, and NF-κB. The unripe-methanol extract showed the highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity but limited cytotoxicity. Conversely, the ripe-water extract suppressed CRC cell proliferation while sparing normal cells. It inhibited invasion in DLD-1 but increased it in HT-29. Apoptosis was not markedly induced in HT-29, though DLD-1 cells showed moderate increases. Gene and protein expression suggested extract-dependent modulation of apoptotic and inflammatory markers, with some discrepancies between mRNA and protein levels. Overall, these findings highlight the therapeutic promise of fig extracts and the influence of ripening stage and solvent choice.
Ethical Statement
This study was based solely on in vitro experiments using established cell lines, was performed in accordance with institutional ethical standards, and did not require prior ethical approval.
Supporting Institution
Selcuk University Research Foundation
Project Number
16202041, 17401051
Thanks
This study was funded by the Selcuk University Research Foundation under the grants numbered 16202041 and 17401051.
References
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Abdel-Rahman, R., Ghoneimy, E., Abdel-Wahab, A., Eldeeb,
N., Salem, M., Salama, E., & Ahmed, T. (2021). The
therapeutic effects of Ficus carica extract as
antioxidant and anticancer agent. South African Journal
of Botany, 141, 273-277. DOI:
10.1016/j.sajb.2021.04.019
-
Aggarwal, B. B., Banerjee, S., Bharadwaj, U., Sung, B.,
Shishodia, S., & Sethi, G. (2007). Curcumin induces
the degradation of cyclin E expression through
ubiquitin-dependent pathway and up-regulates cyclin-
dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27 in multiple
human tumor cell lines. Biochemical Pharmacology, 73
(7), 1024-1032. DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2006.12.010
-
Brand-Williams, W., Cuvelier, M. E., & Berset, C. L. W. T.
(1995). Use of a free radical method to evaluate
antioxidant activity. LWT-Food science and
Technology, 28(1), 25-30. DOI: 10.1016/S0023-
6438(95)80008-5
-
Chau, I., & Cunningham, D. (2006). Adjuvant therapy in colon
cancer-what, when and how?. Annals of Oncology,
17(9), 1347-1359. DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdl029
-
Chen, C., Edelstein, L. C., & Gélinas, C. (2000). The Rel/NF-
κB family directly activates expression of the apoptosis
inhibitor Bcl-xL. Molecular and cellular biology,
20(8), 2687-2695. DOI: 10.1128/MCB.20.8.2687-
2695.2000
-
Chung, S.S., Wu, Y., Okobi, Q., Adekoya, D., Atefi, M.,
Clarke, O., ..., & Vadgama, J.V. (2017).
Proinflammatory cytokines IL‐6 and TNF‐α increased
telomerase activity through NF‐κB/STAT1/STAT3
activation, and withaferin a inhibited the signaling in
colorectal cancer cells. Mediators of inflammation,
2017(1), 5958429. DOI: 10.1155/2017/5958429
-
Çalişkan, O., & Polat, A.A. (2011). Phytochemical and
antioxidant properties of selected fig (Ficus carica L.)
accessions from the eastern Mediterranean region of
Turkey. Scientia Horticulturae, 128(4), 473-478. DOI:
10.1016/j.scienta.2011.02.023
-
Davis, P.H. (1965-1988). Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean
Islands. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, (Vols.
I-X).
-
Do, Q.D., Angkawijaya, A.E., Tran-Nguyen, P.L., Huynh,
L.H., Soetaredjo, F.E., Ismadji, S., & Ju, Y.H.
(2014). Effect of extraction solvent on total phenol
content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant
activity of Limnophila aromatica. Journal of food and
drug analysis, 22(3), 296-302. DOI:
10.1016/j.jfda.2013.11.001
-
Ercisli, S., Tosun, M., Karlidag, H., Dzubur, A., Hadziabulic,
S., & Aliman, Y. (2012). Color and antioxidant
characteristics of some fresh fig (Ficus carica L.)
genotypes from Northeastern Turkey. Plant Foods for
Human Nutrition, 67(3), 271-276. DOI:
10.1007/s11130-012-0292-2
-
Fan, Y., Mao, R., & Yang, J. (2013). NF-κB and STAT3
signaling pathways collaboratively link inflammation
to cancer. Protein & cell, 4(3), 176-185. DOI:
10.1007/s13238-013-2084-3
-
Gozuacik, D., & Kimchi, A. (2004). Autophagy as a cell death
and tumor suppressor mechanism. Oncogene, 23(16),
2891-2906. DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1207521
-
Grivennikov, S. I., & Karin, M. (2010). Dangerous liaisons:
STAT3 and NF-κB collaboration and crosstalk in
cancer. Cytokine & growth factor reviews, 21(1), 11-19.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2009.11.005
-
Hacımüftüoğlu, E., Shadidizaji, A., Cinisli, K.T., &
Karakaya, S. (2025). From ancient wisdom to modern
medicine: the cultural and therapeutic significance of
Ficus carica L. (Moraceae) extracts in colorectal cancer
treatment. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry,
49(2), 405-414. DOI: 10.55730/1300-011X.3274
-
Hristova, N.R., Tagscherer, K.E., Fassl, A., Kopitz, J., &
Roth, W. (2013). Notch1-dependent regulation of p27
determines cell fate in colorectal cancer. International
journal of oncology, 43(6), 1967-1975. DOI:
10.3892/ijo.2013.2140
-
Kebal, L., Djebli, N., Pokajewicz, K., Mostefa, N., &
Wieczorek, P.P. (2024). Antioxidant activity and
effectiveness of fig extract in counteracting carbon
tetrachloride-induced oxidative damage in rats.
Molecules, 29(9), 1997. DOI:
10.3390/molecules29091997
-
Meng, R.D., Shelton, C.C., Li, Y.M., Qin, L.X., Notterman,
D., Paty, P.B., & Schwartz, G.K. (2009). γ-Secretase
inhibitors abrogate oxaliplatin-induced activation of the
Notch-1 signaling pathway in colon cancer cells
resulting in enhanced chemosensitivity. Cancer
Research, 69(2), 573-582. DOI: 10.1158/0008-
5472.CAN-08-2088
-
Meziant, L., Benchikh, Y., & Louaileche, H. (2014).
Deployment of response surface methodology to
optimize recovery of dark fresh fig (Ficus carica L.,
var. Azenjar) total phenolic compounds and antioxidant
activity. Food Chemistry, 162, 277-282. DOI:
10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.04.054
-
Ou, A., Zhao, X., & Lu, Z. (2022). Autophagy is involved in
Ficus carica fruit extract-induced anti-tumor effects on
pancreatic cancer. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy,
150, 112966. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112966
-
Prieto, P., Pineda, M., & Aguilar, M. (1999).
Spectrophotometric quantitation of antioxidant
capacity through the formation of a
phosphomolybdenum complex: specific application to
the determination of vitamin E. Analytical
Biochemistry, 269(2), 337-341. DOI:
10.1006/abio.1999.4019
-
Purnamasari, R., Winarni, D., Permanasari, A.A., Agustina,
E., Hayaza, S., & Darmanto, W. (2019). Anticancer
activity of methanol extract of Ficus carica leaves and
fruits against proliferation, apoptosis, and necrosis in
Huh7it cells. Cancer Informatics, 18,
1176935119842576. DOI:
10.1177/1176935119842576
-
Slinkard, K., & Singleton, V.L. (1977). Total phenol analysis:
automation and comparison with manual methods.
American journal of enology and viticulture, 28(1), 49-
55. DOI: 10.5344/ajev.1977.28.1.49
-
Soltana, H., Pinon, A., Limami, Y., Zaid, Y., Khalki, L., Zaid,
N., ..., & Hammami, M. (2019). Antitumoral activity
of Ficus carica L. on colorectal cancer cell lines.
Cellular and Molecular Biology, 65(6), 6-11. DOI:
10.14715/cmb/2019.65.6.2
-
Sung, H., Ferlay, J., Siegel, R. L., Laversanne, M.,
Soerjomataram, I., Jemal, A., & Bray, F. (2021).
Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates
of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in
185 countries. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians,
71(3), 209-249. DOI: 10.3322/caac.21660
-
Tikent, A., Laaraj, S., Bouddine, T., Chebaibi, M., Bouhrim,
M., Elfazazi, K., Alqahtani, A.S., Noman, O. M.,
Hajji, L., Rhazi, L., Elamrani, A., & Addi, M.
(2024). Antioxidant potential, antimicrobial activity,
polyphenol profile analysis, and cytotoxicity against
breast cancer cell lines of hydro-ethanolic extracts of
leaves of Ficus carica L. from Eastern Morocco.
Frontiers in Chemistry, 12, 1505473. DOI:
10.3389/fchem.2024.1505473
-
Veberic, R., Jakopic, J., & Stampar, F. (2008). Internal fruit
quality of figs (Ficus carica L.) in the Northern
Mediterranean Region. Italian Journal of Food
Science, 20(2), 255-262.
-
Vinson, J.A., Zubik, L., Bose, P., Samman, N., & Proch, J.
(2005). Dried fruits: excellent in vitro and in vivo
antioxidants. Journal of the American College of
Nutrition, 24(1), 44-50. DOI:
10.1080/07315724.2005.10719442
-
Wu, W.K., Wang, X.J., Cheng, A.S., Luo, M.X., Ng, S.S., To,
K.F., ..., & Yu, J. (2013). Dysregulation and crosstalk
of cellular signaling pathways in colon carcinogenesis.
Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 86(3), 251-
277. DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2012.11.009