Abstract
Medicinal plants are potential sources for a wide range of complex compounds with probable anticancer activity. Ephedra foeminea Forssk. (E. foeminea), a medicinal plant found in the Eastern Mediterranean, has recently been gaining popularity as a cancer remedy; there is, however, a paucity of empirical evidence supporting this claim. In this study, the effect of E. foeminea ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water crude extracts on viability, migratory ability, and the steady-state mRNA levels of genes involved in these processes was, respectively, examined using MTT assay, wound healing assay, and reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). The study concludes that all extracts significantly reduce human osteosarcoma U2OS percentage viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with varying potencies. The least half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was observed in the water extract after 48 h incubation (30.761 ± 1.4 μg/mL) followed by the ethyl acetate extract after 72 h incubation (80.35 ± 1.233 μg/mL) and finally the ethanol extract after 48 h incubation (97.499 ± 1.188 μg/mL). Ethanol extract significantly reduced U2OS percentage wound closure. On the other hand, both ethanol and water extracts considerably reduced the steady-state mRNA expression of beta-catenin, promoting both cell proliferation and migration in osteosarcoma by regulating target genes. Additionally, E. foeminea showed no hemolytic activity. These effects suggest that E. foeminea decreases U2OS cell viability and migratory ability by modulating the expression of critical genes involved in regulating these processes and is likely cytocompatible with human erythrocytes.
Highlights
Accounting for approximately a sixth of all deaths worldwide, the World Health Organization ranks cancer as the second leading cause of death in the world
E. foeminea showed no hemolytic activity. These effects suggest that E. foeminea decreases U2OS cell viability and migratory ability by modulating the expression of critical genes involved in regulating these processes and is likely cytocompatible with human erythrocytes
The U2OS human osteosarcoma cell line utilized in this study has been reported to be moderately differentiated, with highly altered chromosomes that exist in the hypertriploid range [4]
Summary
Accounting for approximately a sixth of all deaths worldwide, the World Health Organization ranks cancer as the second leading cause of death in the world. With 14 million new cases recorded in 2012, a 70% increase in such incidences is expected within the twenty years [1]. Despite the progress made in developing cancer treatment procedures, contemporary cancer remedies including surgery and chemoand radiotherapy remain both expensive and ineffective; they pose several adverse side effects to patients, along with the development of drug resistance [2]. Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor prevalent in both children and adolescents. It accounts for approximately 5% of all pediatric malignancies and has a global incidence of about 4.5 cases per 1 million individuals annually. Osteosarcoma treatment is administered through a combination of both surgery and chemotherapy, with patient survival rates of about 70% [3]. The U2OS human osteosarcoma cell line utilized in this study has been reported to be moderately differentiated, with highly altered chromosomes that exist in the hypertriploid range [4]
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