Safranal as a novel anti-tubulin binding agent with potential use in cancer therapy: An in vitro study

- Safranal may affect tubulin conformation through attenuation of tubulin-tubulin interactions.
- Safranal bindings to tubulin could lead to inhibition of microtubule polymerization.
- Safranal can bind to tubulin dimer frequently between α and β subunit.
- Safranal can be considered as an potential anti-cancer agent.

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 (0.1-70 μM) was incubated with tubulin (5 μM) 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 72.19 μM. 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 ΔG0 of −5.63 kcal/mol. Safranal can be taken into account as an anticancer agent; however, in vivo experiments are required to confirm this conclusion.