Simultaneous effect of progesterone and berberine on the level of reactive oxygen species in K562 cell

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is an uncommon type of white blood cells cancer that originates from bone marrow stem cells. Progesterone (P4) and berberine (BBR) are bioactive compounds that inhibit the growth of tumor cells. The present study aimed to assess the simultaneous effect of P4 and BBR on the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in K562 cells. The K562 cells were cultured in a complete cell culture medium and simultaneously exposed to IC50 different concentrations of P4 and BBR at 24 h (P4:102.4 μM; BBR:125 μM), 48 h (P4:78.4 μM; BBR:114 μM), and 72 h (P4:70 μM; BBR:45 μM). Then, the cell viability and cellular ROS level were determined using MTT assay and 2′, 7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCF) by flow cytometry, respectively. Our results showed that the combination of P4 and BBR inhibited the cells more effectively than P4 and BBR alone at 72 h, as well as P4 and their combination reduced ROS level in the cells compared to BBR and untreated cells at 24 h and 72 h. Taken together, P4 through a ROS-dependent pathway and BBR through a ROS-independent pathway may be inhibited cell growth.