Effects of Alkanna bracteosa extract on the expression level of HSP90α and HER2 genes in human gastric cancer cell line

Gastric cancer was classified as the third most deadly cancer among all other cancer types. The HSP90 and HER2 genes play essential roles in the stability and function of high-expression proteins that cause malignancy. The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of the alcoholic Alkanna bracteosa extract on the expression of HSP90α and HER2 genes in AGS cell line. Therefore, the methanolic extraction was isolated from aerial parts of the plant and AGS and HuGu cell lines were analyzed using 102.4–0.05 mg ml⁻¹ dose concentrations in serial dilution; to measure the cell toxicity by MTT assay. Furthermore, real-time PCR analysis measured the expression level of HSP90α and HER2 genes using the IC50 dose concentrations. Quantification of apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin/PI kit in flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation tests. The results of MTT assay represented the IC50 dose concentration of 0.8 and 3.2 mg ml⁻¹ for AGS and HuGu respectively. The rate of HER2 gene expression was significantly decreased in AGS cells treated with 0.8 mg ml⁻¹ dose concentration compared to control. The exposure of AGS treated cells with 0.8 mg ml⁻¹ dose concentration after 24 h represented 24.3% apoptosis and 13.3% necrosis. The agarose gel represented the DNA fragmentation pattern of apoptosis. This study demonstrated the significant differences between the cell viability rate, gene expression level, and apoptosis of the Alkanna bracteosa extract on AGS cells. These results demonstrated the first report of which the Alkanna braceteosa would be an effective candidate for possible treatment of Gastric cancer.