Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and apoptotic effects of Flourensia microphylla on HT-29 colon cancer cells

Abstract

Colon cancer is one of the most common cancer types, causing major health problems worldwide. In Mexico, colon cancer occupies the third place on incidence among all cancer types. Flourensia species have been used in traditional medicine, and recently, these have been studied due to their biological properties such antibacterial and antifungal. Therefore, the aims of this work were to study the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and apoptotic effects of two extracts (ethanol and acetone) of Flourensia microphylla. The leaves of F. microphylla were collected in the wild site (25°07′13″N latitude and 101°07′24″W longitude, 2383m asl altitude) at Southeast of Coahuila, Mexico. The phenolic content and antioxidant activity were determined in ethanol and acetone extracts. Chemical composition was analyzed with LC–MS/MS and GC–MS. Cellular viability were analyze by 3-(4,5-di-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5,-dephenyl-2 tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and evaluated on HT-29 cells. Western blot assay was carried out to measure the inflammatory markers expression and apoptotic assay was conducted with a human apoptosis antibody array. Results showed that F. microphylla extracts are a great source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. Acetone extract presented anti-inflammatory effect due to the inhibition of interleukin 8 (IL-8). Also, acetone extract showed activation of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis by the increment of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Ethanol extract activated the extrinsic pathway as the expression of the TNF family proteins, such as Fas and TRAIL, was observed. Both extracts demonstrated apoptotic activity by the expression of caspase 3 (Cas-3), the initiator caspase of apoptosis. Thus, F. microphylla extracts can be a potential natural alternative to prevent colon cancer.