The objective of the present study was to elucidate the multilateral effects of conferone on HT-29 cell lines. In addition to cell cytotoxicity, the extent of lipid peroxidation, MDA formation, catalase, superoxide dismutase and intracellular ROS levels, as markers of oxidative stress, were also studied. P-glycoprotein-mediated cellular efflux effectiveness, anti-angiogenic and finally anti-migratory capacities of conferone-exposed HT-29 cells were monitored over a course of 72 h.
It was found that, conferone mediated cell proliferation arrest and induced cell death through both apoptosis and necrosis phenomena. HT-29 cells, exposed to 20 µM conferone, under gone oxidative stress and total content of reactive oxygen species was increased in a time-dependent manner. Intracellular accumulation of rhodamine 123 and cell's swelling under iso- and hypo-osmotic conditions could be related to P-glycoprotein incorrect performance in the presence of conferone. A significant reduction in CD31 positive cells population and in vitro tubulogenesis of endothelial cells was also observed after incubation with conditioned medium collected from 72 h conferone-treated HT-29 cells. Conferone also precluded angiogenesis capability of treated HT-29 cells through an altered secretome profile, including vascular endothelial growth factor, Angiopoietin-1 and -2 factors. In addition to anti-angiogenic properties of conferone, a profound decrease in migration capability of HT-29 cells was also evident.