Scholars International Journal of Biochemistry (SIJB)
Volume-9 | Issue-02 | 30-41
Original Research Article
Withaferin a Inhibits EGF and ERK Signaling to Induce Programmed Cell Death in Colon Cancer Cells
Neveen Abdelrahman, Tamer Roshdy, Amal Abd-Elaziz, Adel A. Guirgis, Hany Khalil
Published : July 21, 2026
Abstract
Withaferin A (WA), a bioactive compound derived from the Ashwagandha plant, has been recognized for its anticancer properties. We tested various concentrations of WA, Fluvastatin (FLU), and their combinations (ranging from 0 to 160 µM) for their potential regulatory effects on colon cancer cells (Caco-2 cell line) and non-tumorigenic colon cells (NCM-460). Our results showed that at lower concentrations (around10 µM), WA significantly impacted colon cancer cells, showing minimal toxicity to normal cells (NCM-460). However, at higher concentrations, FLU selectively inhibited cancer cell proliferation, with noticeable toxicity to both cancerous and normal cells. Additionally, WA treatment led to a time and dose-dependent decrease in the production of IL-1β and TNF-α. Along with these effects, the downregulation of ERK and EGF gene expression was observed across all treatments. Additionally, docking analysis revealed the potential regulatory role of WA and its interaction with aspartate aminotransferase, in comparison to the docking data for FLU, which serves as a standard inhibitor for aspartate aminotransferase. These findings suggest that WA can inhibit cell proliferation signaling by targeting ERK and EGF, thereby promoting programmed cell death (PCD) in treated cells. These data also demonstrate that WA, whether alone or in combination with other compounds, can regulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in treated cells.