Cytotoxic effects of Kydia calycina leaf fractions on different human cancer cell cultures

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to study the cytotoxic effects of effects of different fractions of Kydia calycina using various human cancer cell cultures, in vitro by MTT assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and caspase-3 activities. Materials and Methods: Human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells, human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells and human neuroblastoma (IMR-32) cells were maintained in a 5% CO2 incubator at 37°C. Different concentrations of fractions of K. calycina such as toluene fraction (KT), ethyl acetate fraction (KE), butanone fraction (KB), and aqueous fraction (KAq) in serum-free culture medium were freshly prepared and used for cytotoxic activity by MTT assay, ROS generation and apoptotic effect by caspase-3 activity. Results: Among the four fractions, the KE and KB fractions have revealed that greater percentage inhibition in all types of cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner by MTT assay. The IC50 values of KE fraction were found to be 38.35, 40.47, and 36.83 μg/mL against HeLa, MCF-7, and IMR-32, respectively. The apoptotic activity was evaluated through ROS generation and caspase-3 activities of KE and KB. The results showed that both fractions have significantly increased the ROS production and caspase-3 levels in all the cell cultures in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: The present investigation has shown that the KE and KB fractions of K. calycina displayed significant cytotoxic activity against all three cancer cells by decreased cell viability, increased generation of ROS and caspase-3 activities.