3, 3'-DIINDOLYLMETHANE AND 5-FLUOROURACIL ACT SYNERGISTICALLY TO PROMOTE APOPTOSIS AND MODIFY OXIDANT-ANTIOXIDANT STATUS ON HUMAN CERVICAL CANCER (HELA) CELLS

S. Mirunalini*, L. Maruthanila and S. Isabella

ABSTRACT

Combined regimen is the most effective treatment strategy in malignancy to overcome drug toxicity and drug induced resistance. The effect of 3, 3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) against the cervical cancer cells is reported here. The antioxidant activity of DIM was studied in some in-vitro antioxidant models showed encouraging results. The cell viability was determined by MTT assay to find IC50 value of DIM (3.9 μg/mL), 5-FU (1.95 μg/mL) and in combination of DIM with 5-FU (0.97 μg/mL) against HeLa cells. The interaction between DIM and 5-FU on human cancer HeLa cells showed that the combination index (CI) values ranging from 0.30 to 0.37 which indicates synergistic effect. The combination of DIM with 5-FU inhibited the proliferation of cervical cancer HeLa cells. Moreover, the level of lipid per-oxidation and enzymatic, nonenzymatic antioxidants activity also modulated. These results suggest that the combined regimen of DIM with 5- FU may be potential chemotherapeutic for cervical cancer.

Keywords: Cervical cancer, 3, 3'-diindolylmethane, 5-fluorouracil, HeLa cells, apoptosis.