Abstract
In this study, the potential cytotoxicity of four plant extracts originated from Cameroon: Xylopia aethiopica (XA), Imperata cylindrica (IC), Echinops giganteus (EG) and Dorstenia psilurus (DP) were examined in vitro. We tested the anti-proliferative activity of the methanolic extracts of these compounds using MTT assay on seven different human cancer cell lines: HeLa, MDA-MB-231, A549, HepG2, U-87, SK-OV-3 and HL60. Induction of cell death was assessed by cell cycle analysis, apoptosis was determined by Annexin V-FITC binding and caspase 3/7 activity. As well, changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cell migration were tested. The genetic toxicity, using the alkaline comet assay, was evaluated. The studied extracts inhibited the cell proliferation of all tested cancer cell lines with concentration dependent effect over time. All of these extracts mainly induced apoptosis of HeLa cells by the accumulation of hypodiploid cells in the sub-G0/G1 phase and increasing the activity of caspase 3/7, as well they showed potential MMP disturbance and expressed a marked inhibitory effect on cell migration. Assessment of probable genetic toxicity by these extracts revealed no or minimum incidence of genetic toxicity. Therefore, the studied plant extracts are exhibiting potent anticancer activity based upon marked induction of tumor-cell death.
Highlights
Cancer is the most serious disease worldwide that is expected to increase due to the adoption of behaviors and lifestyle factors known to cause cancer [1]
The methanolic extract of Echinops giganteus (EG) roots exhibited a significant activity against M. tuberculosis [19], the methanolic extract from the underground part reported for cytotoxic activity against prostate cancer (Mia PaCa2) and two leukemia cells (CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR5000) [20]
The anti-proliferation effect is the first indication to be assessed when investigation novel antitumor agents, the cell growth inhibitory activity of the four plant extracts was initially assessed on the HeLa cell line 48 h after treatment with different concentrations of the crude methanol extracts
Summary
Cancer is the most serious disease worldwide that is expected to increase due to the adoption of behaviors and lifestyle factors known to cause cancer [1]. Imperata cylindrica (IC) (family Poaceae) known as spear grass in West Africa, has diuretic, anti- inflammatory and antibacterial activities [12,13] It shows a potent anthelmintic activity [14] and the methanolic extract of its rhizomes was reported as a significant neuroprotective against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in primary cultures of rat cortical cells [15]. Dorstenia psilurus (DP), (family Moraceae) is widely used in traditional medicine and represents a great source of active constituents including flavonoids, alkaloids and phenolic compounds [21,22,23] It has a therapeutic effect on cardiovascular disorders, snakebites, headache and stomach disorders, it exhibits a potent antimicrobial activity and as its methanolic showed antibacterial activity against a panel of Gram-negative bacteria including multidrug resistant (MDR) phenotypes [13]. Recent study reported the isolation of two isoprenylated flavones from the root extract of DP that activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), stimulate glucose uptake and lower glycemia [24]
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