Inhibition effect of fluoresce-quercitrin from green silk on skin cancer cell A375

Purpose This study aims to research the effects and mechanisms of fluoresce-quercitrin in green silk on skin cancer melanoma inhibition, so as to provide a reference for the medical applications of natural green silk. Design/methodology/approach The research focuses on the biological functions and mechanisms of fluoresce-quercitrin in green silk. Therefore, green cocoons were used for quercetin extraction and purification, following traditional ethanol-water extraction and chromatographic purification methods. In the cell experiment, normal skin keratinocytes HaCaT and malignant melanoma cells A375 were selected. Fluoresce-quercitrin extracted from green silk was used for cell culture, followed by detection of cell phenotype, including cell activity and tumor malignancy. At the same time, transcriptome analysis and pathway enrichment analysis were performed on experimental cells to explore the mechanism by which fluoresce-quercitrin affects cell activity and anticancer activity. Findings Fluoresce-quercitrin have no significant toxic impact on normal skin cells but has anticancer effects, including inhibiting 30% of melanoma proliferation and promoting 8% of cell apoptosis as well as arresting cell cycle. In addition, fluoresce-quercitrin also inhibit 75% of tumorigenic and 89% of metastatic abilities of melanoma cells. Except for the oxidation and phenotype-related cycle pathways related to quercetin, fluoresce-quercitrin is found to be involved in DNA repair, including pathways such as P53 and mismatch repair. Meanwhile, the effects mechanism of fluoresce-quercitrin in tumor cells and normal cells involves not only specific pathways, but also partially overlapping and opposite changes. Originality/value The experimental results indicate that the fluoresce-quercitrin contained in natural green silk has a protective effect on normal cells, along with a killing effect on tumor cells. Transcriptome comparison and pathway enrichment analysis further support and explain the bidirectional influence effect on normal cells and tumor cells.