Onion (
Allium cepa) is being studied as a potential
anticancer agent, but little is known regarding its effect in
multidrug resistance (MDR)
cells. In this
work, the cytotoxicity of crude
onion extract (OE) and fractioned extract (aqueous, methanolic and ethyl
acetate), as well as some
onion compounds (
quercetin and propyl
disulfide) were evaluated in Lucena MDR
human erythroleukemic and its K562 parental
cell line. The capacity of OE to induce
apoptosis and/or
necrosis in these
cells, the possible participation of
oxidative stress and
DNA damage were also assessed.
Similar sensitivities were obtained for both tumoral
cells, however only OE caused significant effects in the
cells. In
K562 cells, a significant increase of
apoptosis was verified while the Lucena
cells experienced a significant increase of
necrosis. An
antioxidant capacity was verified for OE discarding
oxidative damage. However, OE provoked
similar significant
DNA damage in both
cell lines. Thus, the OE capacity to overcome the MDR
phenotype suggests anti-MDR action of OE.