Colchicum pusillum Extract Induced Apoptosis in Colo-741 Metastatic Colon Cancer Cells via Extrinsic Pathway

Colchicum pusillum Sieber is a plant from Colchicaceae family that particularly rich in tropolonic alkaloids, colchicine. The aim of the study is to determine the apoptosis induction effect of Colchicum pusillum extract in Colo-741, metastatic colon cancer cells and if so, to determine by which apoptotic pathway. Colchicum pusillum was collected and extracted with ethanol. Apoptotic activities of Colchicum pusillum were investigated by immunocytochemistry using antibodies directed against to caspase-3, cytochrome-c and FasLigand (FasL) in Colo-741 cells. Immunocytochemical staining results stated that Colchicum pusillum extract at 20 µg/mL dose, increased caspase-3 and FasL activity significantly but was not able to activate cytochrome-c activity. The results suggested that Colchicum pusillum extract induced apoptosis in metastatic colon cancer cells via extrinsic apoptotic pathway.