Vicenin-2 acts as a radiosensitizer of the non-small cell lung cancer by lowering Akt expression.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a very high rate of incidence and is resistant to chemo- and radiotherapy. Vicenin-2 (VCN-2) is a flavonoid obtained from Ocimum sanctum L. and it has been reported to have radioprotective, anticancer, and radiosensitizing properties. We have conducted this study to check the effect of VCN-2 on the cell viability and the effect on PTEN (Phosphatase and tensin homolog), PI3KCA (Phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-biphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha isoform/PI3K 110α subunit), and Akt1 when VCN-2 was used alone and in combination with radiation in the NSCLC cell line NCI-H23 (H23). We have also checked the effect of VCN-2 on various pro- and anti-apoptotic genes and the ultra-morphological changes that occurred in the cells when VCN-2 is used alone and in combination with radiation. VCN-2 was able to lower cancer cell survival and phosphorylated Akt while promoting the expression of pro-apoptotic genes and down-regulating anti-apoptotic genes. We also observed the apoptosis-associated ultra-morphological changes in the VCN-2-treated cells. Our study have demonstrated that VCN-2 can be a potential chemotherapeutic and radiosensitizing agent in NSCLC. © 2018 BioFactors, 45(2):200-210, 2019.