Naringin and 5-fluorouracil suppress inflammatory Cytokines in human skin cancer cell line

Naringin is a citrus flavonoid recently studied for anti-inflammatory activity in numerous cancer cells. In this study, the anti-inflammatory properties of naringin along with 5-fluorouracil in human skin cancer cell lines A375 was analyzed. A375 cells were treated with naringin, 5-fluorouracil alone, and combination. MTT assay and cell viability assays was demonstrated to detect the inhibitory effects of naringin or 5-fluorouracil on cell proliferation. mRNA expression of TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β, and NFκB were determined using quantitative RT-PCR.  The effect of naringin and 5-fluorouracil combination significantly inhibited the growth and proliferation of the A375 cells in a concentration dependent manner with the IC50 values of naringin (24.75 μM) 5-fluorouracil (2.5 μM). The combination of naringin+5-fluorouracil on A375 cell lines at a concentration of half IC50 values (12µM+1 μM). Naringin and 5-fluorouracil combination also decreased the level of TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β, and NFκB mRNA in the A375 cell line. Naringin and 5-fluorouracil exerted anti-inflammatory effect through the suppression of NF-kB, IL-1β, TNFα, IL-6 in A375 cells. Taken together, our results suggested that treating A375 with naringin and 5-fluorouracil combination may have future applications in treating skin cancers through its anti-inflammatory effect.