Objective: We investigated the effect of long-chain monoglyceride derivatives on cervical cancer (HeLa) cells proliferation and compared those with normal cells (Vero).

Material and Method: The long-chain monoglycerides (MGs) used in this study were monomyristin, monopalmitin, monostearin, monoolein and monolinolein. The anti-proliferative effect of MGs was conducted to assess the living cell metabolic activity of two different cell types; HeLa and Vero cell lines by using MTT assay. The cell percentage of viabilities and IC50 values were determined after the cells treated with different concentrations of MGs for 24 h. The apoptosis cell death induced by MGs was evaluated by using caspase-3 activity-ELISA immunoassay and DNA ladder assay.

Results: The dose dependent effect of MGs on HeLa cell growth inhibition was observed. The IC50 of MGs treated HeLa cells were significantly different from those treated with Vero cells (p<0.001). Interestingly, no cytotoxicity on normal cells (Vero) treated with high concentrations of MGs (1,000 μg/mL) was observed. Among saturated and unsaturated long-chain MGs used, monomyristin (C14: 0) and monolinolein (C18: 2) showed the lowest anti-proliferative activity. The inhibitory activity of MGs was higher on HeLa cells treated with the saturated fatty acid moiety than the unsaturated fatty acid of the same carbon chain length MG (C18). The degree of growth inhibition was not depending on the carbon chain length of fatty acid moiety of long-chain MGs used. The caspase-3 activity, a hallmark of apoptosis cell death were increased in HeLa cells-treated group and was significantly different from the untreated control group (p<0.001). In addition, DNA laddering pattern was demonstrated in MGs treated HeLa cells.

Conclusion: We firstly demonstrated that long-chain MGs derivatives inhibited cervical cancer cell growth and induced apoptosis cell death.

Keywords: Monoglycerides, Monoacylglycerols, Caspase-3, Apoptosis, Crvical cancer, HeLa