Inducing Effect of Corylus avellana on Cytotoxic Activity in Lung and Breast Cancer Cells via Apoptosis

Turkish hazelnut (Corylus avellana L. cv Tombul) is a widely used nut in the chocolate industry and is also rich in polyphenol content, which promises anticancer effects. The anti-cancer and apoptotic effects of hazelnut leaves extracts examined on lung and breast cancer cells. Sulforhodamine B (SRB) and Adenosine 5'- triphosphate (ATP) assays were carried out for cell viability measurement. The mode of cell death was shown morphologically by the double fluorescence staining. Apoptosis was determined by performing caspase-mediated cytokeratin 18 (M30 ELISA) and western blot analysis. PARP, caspase 3, caspase 8, DR4, and GAPHD (Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase) protein bands were visualized as markers of apoptosis. A wound healing test was employed to measure cell migration. Methanol extract of hazelnut leaf exhibited inhibition of cell growth activities in a dose-dependent manner. IC50 values were determined as 32.17 mu g/ml in MCF-7, 32.16 mu g/ml in MDA-MB-231, 20.40 mu g/ml in A549 and 12.04 mu g/ml in H1299 cells for ethanol extract while it was determined as 21.08 mu g/ml in MCF-7, 40.16 mu g/ml in MDA-MB-231, 22.04 mu g/ml in A549 and 5.91 mu g/ml in H1299 cells in methanol extract. In comparison, methanol leaf extracts were more effective in H1299 cells (IC50 value was 5.91 mu g/ml).In comparison, ethanol leaf extracts were more effective in H1299 cells (IC50 value was 9.722 mu g/ml). Western blot analysis demonstrated that hazelnut leaf extract treatment of cancer cells led to cell death via apoptosis and inhibited cell migration in lung and breast cancer cell lines. The cytotoxic effects of hazelnut extract on breast and lung cancer cells might be valuable and promising in elucidating cell death mechanisms for the development of new methods in cancer treatment.