Effect of polysaccharide from Undaria pinnatifida on proliferation, migration and apoptosis of breast cancer cell MCF7

Sulfated polysaccharide from Undaria pinnatifida (SPUP) has significant anti-breast cancer activity. However, its anticarcinogenic mechanism still remains unclear. The aim of this article is to observe the effect of SPUP on proliferation, migration and apoptosis of human breast cancer cell line MCF7. Firstly, the effect of SPUP on proliferation was evaluated through MTT assay, plate clonality assay and immunofluorescence test of PCNA. The results showed that SPUP could significantly reduce MCF7 cells proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Based on transwell and scratch wound healing assays, then, inhibitory action of SPUP for MCF7 cells migration was observed. Finally, apoptosis and cycle arrest of SPUP for MCF7 cells also were found by the results from both flow cytometry analysis and Hoechst 33342 staining of apoptotic cells. Overall, these results showed anti-breast cancer mechanism of SPUP could be possibly related to inhibit migration, proliferation and induce apoptosis of cancer cells.