The Apoptotic Properties of Leaf Extracts of Simarouba glauca against Human Leukemic Cancer Cells.

Vikas Biba,Sujathan Kunjiraman,Sukumaran Anil,Suja Somasekharan Nair Rajam

doi:10.31557/apjcp.2021.22.4.1305

Abstract

Background and objective:Simarouba glauca is a plant belonging to the family of Simaroubaceae. It is a potent source of secondary metabolites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the apoptotic properties of leaf extracts of Simarouba glauca against human leukemic cancer cells. Materials and Methods:Cytotoxicity of Simarouba glauca was assessed in the leaf extract of petroleum ether against leukemic cells by MTT assay. To detect the apoptotic features, fluorescence microscopy analysis was done with dual acridine orange/ethidium bromide fluorescent staining and Hoechst staining. To determine the externalization of phosphatidylserine, annexin v staining was done. Mitochondrial or death receptor activation was confirmed by caspase 3 analysis by flow cytometry. Results:This study revealed that Simarouba glauca was able to treat leukemia. Among the four extracts, petroleum ether extract showed a higher order of in vitro anticancer activity. The petroleum ether extract strongly inhibited the proliferation of K562 cell lines with IC50 values of 186 µg/ml. Dual acridine orange/ethidium bromide fluorescent staining and Hoechst staining revealed the characteristic features of apoptosis. Annexin V confirmed early and late stage apoptosis. Caspase-3 analysis revealed that cell death was due to mitochondrial or death receptor activation in mitochondrial pathway. Conclusion:These findings suggested that Simarouba glauca leaf extracts inhibited leukemic cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner either through mitochondrial or death receptor activation. The leaf extracts of Simarouba glauca was found to be nontoxic to lymphocytes. It can be concluded that Simarouba glauca is an important source of phytochemicals posing efficacy against leukemic cancer cells.

Highlights

Cancer is a dreadful disease and a major public health problem in the world
These findings suggested that Simarouba glauca leaf extracts inhibited leukemic cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner either through mitochondrial or death receptor activation
MTT assay for K562 cell line: When four extracts were evaluated for cytotoxicity against K-562 cell line, LPE showed maximum cytotoxicity of 78%, LCH 71%, LEA 55%, and LMet 57% at a concentration of 800μg/ml and within 48hrs (Figure 2)

Summary

Introduction

Cancer is a dreadful disease and a major public health problem in the world. Plant-derived drugs are used as one of the treatment for cancers. The use of the medicinal plants in cancer prevention and management is common in all over world transmitted from generation to generation. Simarouba glauca is an evergreen edible oil tree belonging to family Simaroubaceae. Simarouba glauca is a plant belonging to the family of Simaroubaceae. It is a potent source of secondary metabolites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the apoptotic properties of leaf extracts of Simarouba glauca against human leukemic cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Cytotoxicity of Simarouba glauca was assessed in the leaf extract of petroleum ether against leukemic cells by MTT assay. Conclusion: These findings suggested that Simarouba glauca leaf extracts inhibited leukemic cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner either through mitochondrial or death receptor activation. It can be concluded that Simarouba glauca is an important source of phytochemicals posing efficacy against leukemic cancer cells

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