Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effects of a hydromethanolic extract obtained from cembran pine needles in HeLa cell line. In this respect, the effects of needle extract on protein synthesis, viability, proliferation and cell cycle in HeLa cells were evaluated after 48 h treatment. Cembran pine needle extract dose-dependently decreased protein synthesis in HeLa cells causing 44.26% reduction in protein synthesis at 100µg/ml. At 25, 50 and 100µg/ml, it increased cell death in comparison with the control (20.99%, 21.49% and 23.63%, respectively vs. 9.83%). In addition, at 100µg/ml, cembran pine needle extract showed a remarkable antiproliferative effect whereas at 25 and 50µg/ml, it induced sub-G1 phase cells accumulation (11.68 ± 0.81% and 14.69 ± 0.56%, respectively in comparison with control, 6.03 ± 0.55%), an indicator of proapoptotic effects. Taken together, these results indicate that cembran pine needles are a source of compounds with antitumor potential which needs to be further investigated and exploited.
Highlights
The genus Pinus includes more than 100 species spread worldwide, mainly in the northern hemisphere and in the tropical and subtropical areas [1]
The present study describes a preliminary screening of the cytotoxic potential of the cembran pine needle hydromethanolic extract on HeLa cells
Cellular protein assay The effect of cembran pine needle extract on protein synthesis in HeLa cells was estimated spectrophotometrically using methylene blue according to the method described by Kreja et al [11]
Summary
The genus Pinus includes more than 100 species spread worldwide, mainly in the northern hemisphere and in the tropical and subtropical areas [1]. The therapeutic benefits of pine species are known for more than 2000 years. Pine inner bark (fresh, dried, roasted) was eaten by the natives in northern Europe and America due to its high contents in flavonoids and vitamin C [2]. Pine needles have been used in the traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments (cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus) [3]. Nowadays research has shown numerous biological effects for pine needle extracts (many of them supporting the traditional medicinal uses) and has unveiled novel ones such as antitumor potential. Pine needle extracts were reported to exhibit cytotoxic effects against a wide range of cancer cells. Numerous compounds with promising antitumor activity have been isolated from pine needles [4,5,6]
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