Abstract
Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth. The current treatment options of cancer are radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and surgery, where all of them have unpleasant side effects. Due to their adverse side effects, it is challenging to develop new drug for cancer treatment. Hence, the scientists are trying to seek for noble compounds from natural sources to treat cancer. Therefore, in the present investigation, a widely consumable vegetable Basella alba was subjected to evaluate its antiproliferative effect along with molecular signaling of apoptosis in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cell line. Cell growth inhibition was determined by haemocytometer whereas apoptosis of cancer cells were studied by florescence microscope using Hoechst-33342 stain and result was supported by DNA fragmentation and certain cancer related genes expression through PCR analysis. B. alba leaf and seed extract exhibit a considerable scavenging activity in comparison to a standard antioxidant BHT. Moreover, the leaf and seed extracts were able to agglutinate 2% RBC of goat blood at minimum 12.5μg/ml and 50.0μg/ml concentration, respectively. A significant cytotoxic activity was also found in both leaf and seed extract. In haemocytometic observation, the leaf and seed extracts exhibit about 62.54±2.41% and 53.96±2.34% cell growth inhibition, respectively, whereas standard anticancer drug Bleomycin showed 79.43±1.92% growth inhibition. Morphological alteration under fluorescence microscope showed nuclear condensation and fragmentation which is the sign of apoptosis. Apoptosis induction was also confirmed by DNA laddering in leaf and seed treated EAC cells. Upregulation of the tumor suppressor gene P53 and downregulation of antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2 enumerate apoptosis induction. Therefore, current study manifested that leaf and seed extracts of B. alba have antiproliferative activity against EAC cell line and can be a potent source of anticancer agents to treat cancer.
Highlights
Cancer is considering the burning health issue and is one of the most life threatening diseases in both developed and developing countries [1]
Our current experimental plant B. alba showed various activity as anticancer agent which was proved by different bioassay like antioxidant activity, hemagglutination activity, cytotoxic activity, and cell growth inhibition assay
Our molecular studies suggest that the leaf and seed extracts of B. alba can inhibit Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cell growth
Summary
Cancer is considering the burning health issue and is one of the most life threatening diseases in both developed and developing countries [1]. Cancer development is associated with the alteration of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and DNA repair genes [4] Both external factors such as tobacco, chemicals, radiation, and infectious organisms and internal factors such as inherited mutations, hormones immune conditions are considered to be responsible or the risk factors for causation of cancer [5]. The increased death incidence and the adverse effects of anticancer drugs are the main reasons that motivated the researchers to look for new and Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine more effective drugs with lesser side effects [8] Due to these limitations, scientists are in constant search of natural compounds which might be capable of healing cancer [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
