Abstract
The search for cancer treatment continues to be a global effort. As part of this global effort, many natural products have been tested against cancer cell lines, mostly from tropically located plants. This study reports that extracts of Atriplex confertifolia (Torr. and Frem.) S. Watson (Chenopodiaceae), a native North American plant (also known as shadscale or saltbush), has significant bioactivity against human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB 435, MDA-MB 231, and HeLa cells (cervical cancer cells). The bioactivity of A. confertifolia extracts on these cells lines was compared to an FDA-approved cancer drug (Onxol®) and an industry-standard leukocyte control cell line. Active portions of the extracts were found primarily in the polar fractions of the plant. A dose-response curve of the extracts displayed significant cell death similar to Onxol®. The plant extracts did not significantly inhibit the viability of the leukocyte cell line. In a timed study, over 90% of cell lines MDA-MB 435 and HeLa died after 24 hours. Cell death appears to result from apoptosis.
Highlights
In 2008, 565,000 Americans died of cancer
From the positive cytotoxicity results of Welch’s study using HeLa cells, it was thought that A. confertifolia may have bioactivity on other human cancer cells
All procedures used the same samples of Atriplex confertifolia that were taken west of Lehi, Utah (40◦ 13 51 N, 112◦ 11 33 W) and stored at 4◦C in a cold room at Brigham Young University (BYU)
Summary
In 2008, 565,000 Americans died of cancer. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease [1]. Most botanical investigations have come from rainforest or tropical plants, yet there are many untested nontropical plants and a few have shown bioactivity [6, 7] One such example is Taxol, the number one selling cancer drug, which is derived from Pacific yew tree bark. “The fact that A. confertifolia is edible but still kills cancer cells may be very important It suggests that the cytotoxic agents in the plant may show specificity only towards cancerous cells, making it an excellent candidate for pharmacological use [13].”. From the positive cytotoxicity results of Welch’s study using HeLa cells, it was thought that A. confertifolia may have bioactivity on other human cancer cells It suggests that the cytotoxic agents in the plant may show specificity only towards cancerous cells, making it an excellent candidate for pharmacological use [13].” From the positive cytotoxicity results of Welch’s study using HeLa cells, it was thought that A. confertifolia may have bioactivity on other human cancer cells
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