Abstract:
Papaverine (PPV) is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Papaver somniferum that
exerts antiproliferative activity. However, several questions remain regarding the biochemical
pathways affected by PPV in tumourigenic cells. In this study, the influence of PPV on cell migration
(light microscopy), expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) B, VEGF R1, VEGF
R2, and phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (pFAK) were investigated using spectrophotometry
in MDA-MB-231-, A549- and DU145 cell lines. The migration assay revealed that, after 48 h, PPV
(100 µM) reduced cell migration to 81%, 91%, and 71% in MDA-MB-231-, A549-, and DU145 cells,
respectively. VEGF B expression was reduced to 0.79-, 0.71-, and 0.73-fold after 48 h of exposure
to PPV in MDA-MB-231-, A549- and DU145 cells, while PPV exposure of 48 h increased VEGF R1
expression in MDA-MB-231- and DU145 cells to 1.38 and 1.46. A fold decrease in VEGF R1 expression
was observed in A549 cells to 0.90 after exposure to 150 µM. No statistically significant effects were
observed on VEGF R2- and FAK expression after exposure to PPV. This study contributes to the
understanding of the effects of a phytomedicinal alkaloid compound in cancer cells and may provide
novel approaches to the application of non-addictive alkaloids.
