Piceatannol induces caspase‐dependent apoptosis by modulating intracellular reactive oxygen species/mitochondrial membrane potential and enhances autophagy in neuroblastoma cells

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effects of piceatannol, a natural stilbenoid, on human neuroblastoma cells. In order to accomplish this goal, we performed various cellular assays, including the XTT cell proliferation assay for cell viability, colony formation assay for colony formation capacity, FITC Annexin V and cell death detection kit for apoptosis, matrigel invasion assay for invasion capacity, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) red dye for intracellular ROS levels, TMRM staining method for mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and the CYTO‐ID autophagy detection kit for autophagy. Furthermore, we analyzed the expression levels of genes associated with apoptosis and autophagy using RT‐qPCR. Based on our findings, piceatannol exhibited cytotoxic effects on neuroblastoma cells. Besides, treatment with piceatannol at both 50 and 100 μM concentrations for 72 h decreased colony formation, induced apoptosis and autophagy, inhibited cell invasion, decreased MMP, and increased ROS levels in SH‐SY5Y cells. In addition, we observed significant upregulation in the expression levels of CASP8, BECLIN, ATG5, ATG7, and MAPILC3A genes between the two doses. These results suggest that piceatannol enhances autophagic activity and induces caspase‐dependent apoptosis, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent against neuroblastoma cells. In this study, piceatannol, a natural stilbenoid with anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties, suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation capacity and invasion in neuroblastoma cells. It also decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential while increasing the level of reactive oxygen species. In addition, it induced apoptosis and autophagy, and this effect was also observed at the molecular level in the expression levels of genes related to apoptosis and autophagy.