Abstract
Prostate cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths among men globally. Medicinal plants have been explored as alternative treatment options. Herein, we assessed the in vitro cytotoxic effects of 70% ethanolic root extracts of six-month-old micropropagated Prunus africana (PIR) on PC-3 prostate cancer cells as an alternative to the traditionally used P. africana stem-bark extract (PWS) treatment. In vitro assays on PC-3 cells included annexin-V and propidium iodide staining, DAPI staining, and caspase-3 activity analysis through western blotting. PC-3 cells were exposed to PWS and PIR at different concentrations, and dose-dependent antiprostate cancer effects were observed. PC-3 cell viability was determined using CCK-8 assay, which yielded IC50 values of 52.30 and 82.40 μg/mL for PWS and PIR, respectively. Annexin-V and PI staining showed dose-dependent apoptosis of PC-3 cells. Significant (p < 0.001) percent of DAPI-stained apoptotic PC-3 cells were observed in PWS, PIR, and doxorubicin treatment compared with the negative control. PWS treatment substantially elevated cleaved caspase-3 levels in PC-3 cells compared with the PIR treatment. These results provide evidence for the antiprostate cancer potential of PIR and sets a basis for further research to enhance future utilization of roots of young micropropagated P. africana for prostate cancer treatment as an alternative to stem bark. Moreover, micropropagation approach may help provide the required raw materials and hence reduce the demand for P. africana from endangered wild population.
Highlights
Prostate cancer is one of the most common nonskin cancers, affecting 9%–11% of men worldwide [1, 2], and one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in men [3,4,5,6]
We examined the antiprostate cancer potential of the micropropagated juvenile six-month-old P. africana plants based on our protocol as an alternative to the use of the stem bark of wild P. africana plants using PC-3 cell line
Relative to PWS, sample PIS showed comparable component patterns at 15–20 min (Part I) and 40–45 min (Part II), peak intensities differed. e components of sample PIC were comparable to those of sample PIR; in particular, these profiles appeared to be quite similar in Part I and Part II of the chromatogram at 320 nm
Summary
Prostate cancer is one of the most common nonskin cancers, affecting 9%–11% of men worldwide [1, 2], and one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in men [3,4,5,6]. Erefore, downregulation of androgens through antiandrogenic agents is vital in prostate cancer treatment [6, 7, 10] This cancer is treated using numerous conventional methods, including radiation therapy, surgery, hormone therapy, and cryosurgery [11]; these methods are frequently associated with various adverse side effects [12]. Us, other avenues with fewer adverse effects are being continuously tested for effective treatment of prostate cancer. One such approach is the use of medicinal plants [13,14,15]
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