Antigrowth effects of Kaempferia parviflora extract enriched in anthocyanidins on human ovarian cancer cells through Ca²⁺-ROS overload and mitochondrial dysfunction

Background: Ovarian cancer is hard to diagnose and its survival rates dramatically decrease according to the stage progression. Anthocyanidins derived from Kaempferia parviflora has been studied for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects in various disease both in vitro and in vivo. However, no studies have evaluated the molecular mechanism of Kaempferia parviflora anthocyanidin fractions in ovarian cancer cells. Objectives: To study the effects of Kaempferia parviflora anthocyanidins on the progression of ovarian cancer, we extracted anthocyanidins from Kaempferia parviflora and analyzed it using HPLC. Then, we determined the change of cell characteristics by treatment of anthocyanidins derived from Kaempferia parviflora. Results: Based on HPLC analysis, the most abundant anthocyanidins of Kaempferia parviflora was peonidin, followed by cyanidin, delphinidin, and pelargonidin. We selected high-grade serous ovarian cancer and clear cell cancer cell lines to investigate the anticancer effects of anthocyanidin extracts. Treatment with anthocyanidin extracts decreased ES-2 and OV-90 cell proliferation and increased late apoptosis with cell cycle arrest at sub G0/G1 phase. In addition, anthocyanidin extracts hampered the mitochondrial membrane permeability in both cell lines. Moreover, the cytosolic calcium accumulation was detected in ES-2 cells, and the overproduction of reactive oxygen species was estimated in OV-90 cells, respectively. Conclusion: Collectively, these results showed the anticancer effects of Kaempferia parviflora anthocyanidin extracts against the progression of ovarian cancer.