Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the protective effects of Trigonella foenum graecum methanol and ethyl acetate extracts, against cancer cell lines and NaNO 2 -induced neurodegeneration in mice brain. Methods: Adult male albino mice ( n = 20) were administered NaNO 2 orally at a dose of 300 mg/kg for 15 days. The control group received distilled water and normal mice feed. Experimental groups were given T. foenum graecum methanol and ethyl acetate extracts in two different doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg orally for 15 days. Histopathological examination of the brain was carried out with the aid of cresyl violet and H&E staining. In addition, the cytotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated by 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay against HCEC, MCF-7 and Hep2 cell lines. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) were used to determine the structures of the bioactive compounds. Results: Methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of T. foenum graecum seeds inhibited neurodegeneration in the hippocampus and cortex regions of the brain when compared to control group. Moreover, the extracts exhibited anticancer activity against Hep2 and MCF-7cells and low cytotoxicity against HCEC, sparing healthy cells in-vitro . In addition, two flavonoids amurensin and cosmosiin were isolated from T. foenum graecum extracts. Conclusion: Amurensin and cosmosiin from T. foenum extracts are reported here for the first time agents that possess significant anticancer and neuroprotective properties. Keywords: Trigonella foenum-graecum , Anticancer, Neurodegeneration, Flavonoids, Amurensin, Cosmosiin
Highlights
The two emerging threats to mankind, Cancer and neurodegenerative disorders have different pathologies but both lead to oxidative stress
Oral administration of methanol or ethyl acetate extracts (100 and 200 mg/kg) of T. foenum graecum retrograded the pathological hallmarks back to normal when compared to the NaNO2 treated group
It was observed that the experimental group treated with oral administration of methanol and ethyl acetate extract (200 mg/kg) of T. foenum graecum resembled the control group with compactly arranged round pyramidal cells, vesicular nuclei, without any nuclear distortion and condensation in hippocampus and cortex
Summary
The two emerging threats to mankind, Cancer and neurodegenerative disorders have different pathologies but both lead to oxidative stress. Sodium nitrite (NaNO2), used for meat and fish preservation prevents growth of Clostridium botulinum, which is known to cause hepatotoxicity, inflammation, neurotoxicity, and hormonal imbalance [2]. Oxidative stress has harmful effects on the liver, kidney, and brain which causes the oxidative neurotoxicity of nitrite to neurons and glial cells, leading to programmed cell death. The significant increase in cytochrome C activity has been previously associated with NaNO2 toxicity [4]. Based on these speculations, the current study was carried out to investigate the neurotoxic effects of NaNO2 on mice brain. Phytochemicals from vegetables, fruits, plants and spices are main sources for the development and discoveries of natural antioxidants, prophylactics, and chemopreventive drugs [7]. Reserveratol, taxol, vincristine, lovastatin, calceorioside, paclitaxel, vitamins A and C, and curcumin are some of the compounds isolated from medicinal plants which possess anticancer, antioxidant and neuroprotective potentials [8]
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