RETRACTED: Anticancer effects of ovatodiolide on human prostate cancer cells involves cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and blocking of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway (Retracted Article)

Purpose: The current research was set with a goal to characterize the anticancer role of ovatodiolide against human prostate cancer along with the underlying mechanism of its action. Methods: The proliferation of prostate cancer cells was assessed by using the CCK8 reagent. DAPI and acridine orange (AO)/ ethidium bromide (EB) staining procedures were employed for the analysis of cell apoptosis. Flow cytometric examination of prostate cancer cells was undertaken for the mitotic cell cycle analysis. The western blotting technique was used for the inference of expression levels of the proteins of interest. Results: In vitro administration of ovatodiolide led to decline of proliferation of prostate cancer cells. The reduction in proliferative rates was attributed to the induction of apoptosis of prostate cancer cells and mitotic cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, the anticancer effects of ovatodiolide on prostate cancer cells were exerted through the inhibition of Ras/ Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascade. Conclusion: This study established the anticancer role of diterpenoid ovatodiolide in restricting the growth and proliferation of human prostate cancer cells.