The Combined Effects of Cisplatin and Royal Jelly on Lung Cancer: Growth, Proliferation, Gene Expression, and Apoptosis

Abstract

Background: Royal jelly (RJ) exhibits diverse biological properties and may enhance the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs through synergistic effects, particularly in inhibiting cancer growth and mitigating drug-related side effects Objectives: This study investigated the combined effects of cisplatin and RJ on the growth, proliferation, gene expression, and apoptosis of A549 lung cancer cells. Methods: The A549 cells (ATCC CCL-185) were treated with cisplatin, RJ, or their combination at various concentrations for 24, 48, and 72 hours. IC50 and EC50 values were determined, and cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay after 48 hours. Expression of chromobox protein 3 homolog (CBX3) and mitochondrial DNA (MT-ND1) genes was quantified by real-time PCR, and apoptosis/necrosis was evaluated via flow cytometry. Results: After 48 hours, cisplatin significantly reduced gene expression, while RJ increased it. The 1:1 combination treatment increased gene expression compared to cisplatin alone but decreased it relative to RJ alone. Apoptosis rates were 1.70% for cisplatin, 1.66% for RJ, and 6.61% for the combination, with apoptotic cell percentages of 54.2%, 11.9%, and 53.5%, respectively. Conclusions: The combination of cisplatin and RJ significantly enhances apoptosis by approximately sixfold, suggesting a synergistic effect that may improve lung cancer treatment outcomes.