Unraveling the therapeutic potential of Rutin against osteosarcoma cells: Targeting TNF-α and VEGF signaling pathways

Abstract Background Rutin is a flavonoid that is widely distributed in plants and has been identified as having medicinal qualities as well as potential benefits for treating a range of ailments. In this work, we examined rutin's anticancer effects, specifically with regard to osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. Methods and results We evaluated the cytotoxic activity of rutin using MTT and LDH tests on the MG-63 osteosarcoma cell line, and the results showed a notable cytotoxic effect. Following rutin treatment, morphological alterations, such as membrane blebbing and cell shrinkage, were noted, which are typical of anticancer medications. Additionally, an in vitro assessment employing the wound healing assay revealed rutin's anti-migratory action on MG-63 cells. The results of the RT-PCR gene expression research pointed to possible pathways of rutin-induced apoptosis, including downregulation of the anti-apoptotic gene BCL-2 and elevation of pro-apoptotic genes including p53, Bax, and caspase-3. Additionally, the migration-causing genes VEGF and EGF were downregulated by rutin. Moreover, the relationship between rutin and proteins linked to osteosarcoma, like VEGF and TNF-α, was evaluated using in silico models. Conclusion The findings demonstrated effective binding at various binding sites, pointing to rutin's possible therapeutic use in the treatment of osteosarcoma. Although this work uses the MG-63 cell line to provide light on the anticancer activity of rutin against osteosarcoma, more preclinical research is necessary to establish the best dosages and assess safety profiles for the possible development of medications for the treatment of osteosarcoma.