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Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1871-5206
ISSN (Online): 1875-5992

Research Article

Anti-MDR Effects of Quercetin and its Nanoemulsion in Multidrug-Resistant Human Leukemia Cells

Author(s): Maiara B. Marques, Ayane P. Machado, Priscila A. Santos, Michele Carrett-Dias, Gabriela S. Araújo, Barbara da Silva Alves, Bárbara Santos de Oliveira, Flavio M.R. da Silva Júnior, Cristiana L. Dora, Andrés D. Cañedo, Daza M.V.B. Filgueira, Estela Fernandes e Silva* and Ana Paula de Souza Votto

Volume 21, Issue 14, 2021

Published on: 04 January, 2021

Page: [1911 - 1920] Pages: 10

DOI: 10.2174/1871520621999210104200722

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Quercetin has potential against the Multidrug Resistance (MDR) phenotype, but with low bioavailability. The increase in the bioavailability can be obtained with nanostructures.

Objective: To analyze the effects of quercetin and its nanoemulsion on MDR and non-MDR cells.

Methods: We used high-pressure homogenization for nanoemulsion production; Trypan Blue for cytostatic/cytotoxicity assays; Epifluorescence microscope (with specific probes) for apoptosis and DNA damage; Real-Time PCR for gene expression; AutoDock Vina for docking and Flow Cytometry for efflux analysis. Quercetin exerted antiproliferative impact, induced apoptosis, necrosis and DNA damage on cells.

Results: Quercetin combined with vincristine showed an effect similar to verapamil (an ABCB1 inhibitor), and docking showed that it binds to ABCB1 in a similar region. Quercetin was also capable of altering ABCB1 gene expression. Quercetin in nanoemulsion maintained the cytotoxic and cytostatic effects of quercetin, which may increase bioavailability. Besides, the unloaded nanoemulsion was able to inhibit per se the efflux activity of ABCB1, demonstrating pharmacological action of this structure.

Conclusion: Quercetin may be considered as a prospective drug to overcome resistance in cancer cells and its nanoemulsion can be an alternative for in vivo application.

Keywords: Docking, ABCB1, proliferation inhibition, apoptosis, nanoemulsion, DNA damage.

Graphical Abstract

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