Safranal, a component of saffron, indicates anti-
tumor activities; however, the precise mechanism of this effect has remained elusive. In this study we investigated
tubulin assembly and structure in the presence of
safranal to open the new horizons about the potential of
safranal as an anti-
tumor agent via microtubule disfunction. Anti-microtubule activity of
safranal was evaluated by turbidimetric method and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Safranal (0.1-70μM) was incubated with
tubulin (5μM) and
tubulin structural changes was surveyed using fluorometry.
Tubulin binding site with
safranal was estimated by molecular docking. Microtubule polymerization decreased significantly in the presence of
safranal, regardless of its concentration and the IC50 value was obtained 72.19μM.
Safranal was situated between α and β
tubulin closer to α-
tubulin and hydrogen bond with Gly 142 and hydrophobic interactions played critical roles for
safranal molecule stabilization in binding site. It seems that decline of
tubulin assembly could result from
tubulin structural changes through
safranal bindings between alpha and
beta tubulin with ΔG(0) of -5.63kcal/mol.
Safranal can be taken into account as an
anticancer agent; however, in vivo experiments are required to confirm this conclusion.