The Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Properties of Tridax Procumbens Leaf Extract on Liver and Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

Human hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma are two of the deadliest emerging forms of cancer worldwide. Hence, the increased search for phytochemicals with promising anticancer properties. In the present study, we assessed the phytochemistry, antioxidant activities and the role of Tridax procumbens leaf extract and fractions on HepG2 and Panc‐1 cells (models of hepatocellular and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma). HepG2 and Panc‐1 cell lines were maintained in supplemented Dulbecco's modified eagle's medium at 37°C in a humidified incubator with 5% CO2. The HepG2 and Panc‐1 cells were treated with 20, 50, 100 and 250 μg/ml of dimethyl sulfoxide (control), extract and fractions (n‐hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, aqueous) for 24 and 48hours. Phytochemistry (total flavonoid, total phenol) and antioxidant (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl hydrate, ferric reducing antioxidant power, nitric oxide radical, total antioxidant capacity) assays were performed on the test samples. The expression levels of catalase, alkaline phosphatase, glutathione S transferase‐pi and caspase 3 were monitored with immunofluorescence. Live/Dead and MTT assay were used to determine cytotoxicity of cultured cells. The dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions showed significant higher antioxidant activities as compared to other test samples. The dichloromethane fraction caused a significant level of cytotoxicity and induction in the activity of ALP, catalase and caspase 3 as compared to the control. Conversely, there was a significant cellular reduction and nuclear translocation of GST‐pi in dichloromethane fraction treated cell as compared to the control. The extract and fractions of Tridax procumbens have antioxidant activities. However, the dichloromethane fraction's activities depict a promising anticancer agent.Support or Funding InformationCommonwealth Scholarship Commission, Department for International Development, United Kingdom and University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NigeriaThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.