Galangin enhances gold nanoparticles as anti-tumor agents against ovarian cancer cells

Galangin is a flavonoid from the root of Alpinia officinarum. It has novel anticancer properties. In the current study, ovarian cancer cells SKOV3 were treated with galangin alone, galangin combined with Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and AuNPs alone, and cytotoxic activity of these agentswas investigated using MTT viability assay. The expression of apoptosis-related genes p53, caspase-8 was studied using Real time PCR assay. Galangin was tested at different concentrations. AuNPs concentrations were 6.25,12.5, 25, 50 and 100 µg/ml. The study of gene expression showed significant effects on p53, caspase8 in ovarian carcinoma cells. The results of the current study refer to galangin-AuNPs combination is synergistic against to ovarian carcinoma to induce cytotoxicity and cell death via apoptosis, this mechanism enhancing expression of p53, caspase-8. The effects of galangin, AuNPs,combination therapy have potential clinicaluse in the future and could be alternative way to the conventional chemotherapy drug.