Abstract
BackgroundA decoction composed of Adenanthera pavonina L. and Thespesia populnea L. is currently being used in the treatment of cancer patients.MethodsLactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) release, (3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) MTT, and Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays were carried out to study cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative activity against the HEp-2 cells, 24 h post-treatment with the decoction.ResultsThe mean (± SD) values of EC50 were 195.50 (±40.68), 120.02 (±29.82) and 77.06 (±8.80) μg/ml for LDH, MTT, and SRB assays respectively. These results strongly correlate the morphological changes observed in cells treated with the decoction. Induction of apoptosis was visualized by fluorescence microscopy stained with ethidium bromide/acridine orange dye mix. In addition, brine shrimp lethality assay showed an EC50 value at a higher concentration (1.96 mg/mL).ConclusionsThese results suggest that the decoction prepared with Adenanthera pavonina L. and Thespesia populnea L. exhibits anti-proliferative activity and induces apoptosis on the HEp-2 cancer cells but no toxicity against Artemia salina.
Highlights
A decoction composed of Adenanthera pavonina L. and Thespesia populnea L. is currently being used in the treatment of cancer patients
The late apoptotic cells were visible at concentration of 150 μg/ml of the decoction and in positive control, camptothecin (5 mM) which had stained orange attributed to incorporation of both ethidium bromide and acridine orange (Fig. 2g & h)
A decoction, containing barks of Thespesia populnea and Adenanthera pavonina is used in the treatment of cancer by traditional physicians in Sri Lanka
Summary
A decoction composed of Adenanthera pavonina L. and Thespesia populnea L. is currently being used in the treatment of cancer patients. The discovery of novel anticancer therapeutics from natural sources, mainly from plants of medicinal value remains pivotal. The broad spectrum of inherent toxicities associated with contemporary anticancer agents and secondly the acquired resistance to currently available drugs warrants cancer researchers to explore further, the ability of natural products to engage as potential anticancer agents [2]. Traditional medical practitioners have been using crude drug extracts and biologically active compounds, isolated from plant species for a number of years. Some of the prescriptions used in Sri Lanka have been studied. Lindamulage and Soysa BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2016) 16:70 study was carried out to evaluate the scientific validity of the decoction on anticancer properties
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