β-Arbutin and cisplatin: A combined approach to modulating apoptosis, cell viability, and migration in bladder cancer cells


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TERZİ E., ÖZ BEDİR B. E., ERCAN E., ÖZDEMİR SANCI T., Jafarova S., Aydin T.

Toxicology in Vitro, vol.104, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 104
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.tiv.2024.105985
  • Journal Name: Toxicology in Vitro
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Environment Index, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Keywords: Bladder cancer, Cisplatin, Combined treatment, HT-1376, Phytochemistry, β-arbutin
  • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

One of the preferred treatments for bladder cancer, one of the most common cancers worldwide, is cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Since most tumor cells show cisplatin resistance, it is very important to discover new agents without adverse side effects. β-arbutin, a hydroquinone-β-D-glucopyranoside, has biological properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer, and is a phytochemical widely used as a skin whitener. In this study, β-arbutin was purified from the animal feed plant Onobrychis buhseana Boiss. (sainfoin). The study aimed to investigate the combined effects of cisplatin, a clinically used chemotherapeutic agent, and β-arbutin on HT-1376 bladder cancer cells for apoptosis, cell viability, and migration. In the study, after HT-1376 bladder cancer cells were cultured, optimum β-arbutin and cisplatin doses were determined on HT-1376 cells using the WST-1 test. To determine the apoptotic and migratory effects, flow cytometry and wound healing assays were performed. In HT-1376 cells, β-Arbutin led to greater apoptotoic and migratory effects when used alone and combined with Cisplatin (p < 0.0001 for apoptotic and migratory effects treated with β-Arbutin alone, p < 0.0001 for apoptotic and migratory effects when combined with Cisplatin). As a result, it can be suggested that β-arbutin may be a good drug candidate for treating bladder cancer.