Abstract
Passiflora alata or passion fruit is a native flowering plant from Amazon, geographically spread from Peru to Brazil. The plant has long been used in folks medicine for its pharmacological properties and is included in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia since 1929. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential cytotoxic and antitumor activities of Passiflora alata leaf extract (PaLE) in S180-tumor bearing mice. The percentage of cell proliferation inhibition (% CPI) and IC50 in relation to 4 tumor cell lines were determined in PC3, K-562, HepG2 and S180 cell lines using the MTT assay. PaLE showed a CPI > 75% and greater potency (IC50 < 30 µg/mL) against PC3 and S180 cell lines. PaLE showed antitumor activity in treatments intraperitoneally (36.75% and 44.99% at doses of 100 and 150 mg/kg/day, respectively). Toxicological changes were shown in the reduced body mass associated with reduced food consumption, increased spleen mass associated with histopathological increase in the white pulp of the spleen and increased number of total leukocytes with changes in the percentage relationship between lymphocytes and neutrophils. Our outcomes corroborate the conclusion that PaLE has antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo with low toxicity.
Highlights
More than 100 types of cancers have already been characterized, for which some type of systemic or local treatment has been proposed for curative or palliative purposes [1,2]
As the pharmacological activities of natural products are directly linked to their chemical composition, and the
Passiflora alata leaf extract (PaLE) obtained by the accelerated solvent extraction method (ASE) has identified the presence of flavonoids [20], we decided to investigate the presence of saponins in the extract through ultra-efficient liquid chromatography
Summary
More than 100 types of cancers have already been characterized, for which some type of systemic or local treatment has been proposed for curative or palliative purposes [1,2]. Chemotherapeutic drugs in general are effective in destroying neoplastic cells, the major challenge is the distinction between neoplastic and normal cells This lack of specificity of chemotherapeutic drugs is a serious limiting factor, due to several adverse effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, alopecia and greater risk of serious infections [3,4]. This risk of infections is mainly caused by hematological changes and leukopenia and percentage changes in the lymphocyte and neutrophil ratio in the differential count. As a consequence of hematological changes, alteration in the mass of lymphoid and histological organs can be observed
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