Study of the Effects of Betaine and/or C-Phycocyanin on the Growth of Lung Cancer A549 Cells in Vitro and in Vivo

We investigated the effects of betaine,c-phycocyanin (c-pc),and their combined use on the growth of a549 lung cancer both in vitro and in vivo. when cells were coincubated with betaine and c-pc,an up to 60% decrease in viability was observed which is significant compared to betaine (50%) or c-pc treatment alone (no decrease). combined treatment reduced the stimulation of nf-b expression by tnf-α and increased the amount of the proapoptotic p38 mapk. interestingly,combined treatment induced a cell cycle arrest in g2/m phase for 60% of cells. in vivo studies were performed in pathogen-free male nude rats injected with a549 cells in their right flank. their daily food was supplemented with either betaine,c-pc,both,or neither. compared to the control group,tumour weights and volumes were significantly reduced in either betaine-or c-pc-treated groups and no additional decrease was obtained with the combined treatment. this data indicates that c-pc and betaine alone may efficiently inhibit tumour growth in rats. the synergistic activity of betaine and c-pc on a549 cells growth observed in vitro remains to be further confirmed in vivo. the reason behind the nature of their interaction is yet to be sought. © 2016 rea bingula et al.