ABSTRACT
Introduction@#Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the Philippines and about 3 in every 100 Filipina will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. There is a need to discover safe, yet inexpensive herbal extracts with potential cytotoxic properties as potential treatment modalities to treat breast cancer. @*Objectives@#This study seeks to explore the cytotoxic and apoptotic properties of the ethyl acetate fraction of the defatted crude methanol leaf extract of Syzygium samarangense in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. @*Methods@#Screening for flavonoids of the extracts was performed using TLC, total flavonoids, total phenols, FTIR and LC-MS spectroscopy. The hydrogen peroxide and ferric reducing anti-oxidant power were used as substrates to assess in vitro anti-oxidative properties of the extracts. The MTT dye viability assay was used to assess the cytotoxic properties of the extracts against MCF-7 cells. Apoptotic properties of the extracts in MCF-7 cells were determined by caspase-3 activation assay, DNA fragmentation patterns and fluorescence microscopy after annexin-V and propidium iodide staining. @*Results@#The abundance of flavonoids in the ethyl acetate fraction of the crude methanol leaf extract was established by TLC, FTIR, LC-MS/MS, total flavonoid and total phenol analyses. The in vitro anti-oxidative properties of this extract was comparable to ascorbic acid. The median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of this extract in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines was 7.2 mcg/mL while doxorubicin registered an IC50 of 1.2 mcg/mL. At this concentration, the extract was not cytotoxic to normally-dividing breast epithelial cells. Cytotoxicity of the extract was mediated via apoptosis as demonstrated by DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation and fluorescence microscopic analyses. @*Conclusion@#The study shows that the flavonoid-rich ethyl acetate fraction of the crude methanol leaf extract of S. samarangense possesses potent apoptotic and cytotoxic properties against MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines at low concentrations.
Subject(s)
MCF-7 Cells , SyzygiumABSTRACT
Introduction@#Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the Philippines and about 3 in every 100 Filipina will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. There is a need to discover safe, yet inexpensive herbal extracts with potential cytotoxic properties as potential treatment modalities to treat breast cancer. @*Objectives@#This study seeks to explore the cytotoxic and apoptotic properties of the ethyl acetate fraction of the defatted crude methanol leaf extract of Syzygium samarangense in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. @*Methods@#Screening for flavonoids of the extracts was performed using TLC, total flavonoids, total phenols, FTIR and LC-MS spectroscopy. The hydrogen peroxide and ferric reducing anti-oxidant power were used as substrates to assess in vitro anti-oxidative properties of the extracts. The MTT dye viability assay was used to assess the cytotoxic properties of the extracts against MCF-7 cells. Apoptotic properties of the extracts in MCF-7 cells were determined by caspase-3 activation assay, DNA fragmentation patterns and fluorescence microscopy after annexin-V and propidium iodide staining. @*Results@#The abundance of flavonoids in the ethyl acetate fraction of the crude methanol leaf extract was established by TLC, FTIR, LC-MS/MS, total flavonoid and total phenol analyses. The in vitro anti-oxidative properties of this extract was comparable to ascorbic acid. The median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of this extract in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines was 7.2 mcg/mL while doxorubicin registered an IC50 of 1.2 mcg/mL. At this concentration, the extract was not cytotoxic to normally-dividing breast epithelial cells. Cytotoxicity of the extract was mediated via apoptosis as demonstrated by DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation and fluorescence microscopic analyses. @*Conclusion@#The study shows that the flavonoid-rich ethyl acetate fraction of the crude methanol leaf extract of S. samarangense possesses potent apoptotic and cytotoxic properties against MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines at low concentrations.
Subject(s)
MCF-7 Cells , SyzygiumABSTRACT
@#The persistence of human diseases challenges the current state of the discovery and production of synthetic drugs. Plants are recognized as a great resource to discover chemical compounds that can be used for drug development. In the Philippines, Ehretia microphylla (tsaang gubat) is recognized by the Department of Health as one of the ten recommended medicinal plants. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the traditional use, phytochemical constituents, pharmacologic activities as well as the non-clinical and clinical studies leading to the NIRPROMP formulation of the tsaang gubat tablet indicated for biliary and gastrointestinal pain. Among the phytochemical constituents observed were flavonoids, phenolics, triterpenes, and alkaloids. Evidence for other pharmacologic properties such as antibacterial, anti-angiogenesis, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, folliculogenesis, wound healing and anti-cancer activities are presented. Currently, tsaang gubat tablet has been granted a full patent for its invention as a tablet for relieving symptoms of biliary and gastrointestinal colic and is registered with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration for these indications. The tsaang gubat tablet is listed in the Philippine National Formulary after the conduct of in vitro, in vivo and Phase I-III clinical trials. Future platforms for research include the reformulation of the existing tsaang gubat drug for other indications, determination of the molecular mechanism of action and plans for plant conservation.
Subject(s)
Phytochemicals , ColicABSTRACT
@#<p><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To evaluate potential effects of the aqueous extract of Quassia amara L. leaves on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of adult male Sprague- Dawley rats.</p><p><strong>METHODS:</strong> The cardiovascular and respiratory effects of the Quassia amara L. leaf extract on adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were assessed using non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) determination and head-out plethysmography, respectively, in a randomized, parallel group study. Mean observations of blood pressure and heart rate were recorded at different time periods after dosing. Respiratory flow and irritation effects were evaluated using mean observations of respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (TV), mid-expiratory flow rate (EF50), time of inspiration (TI) and expiration (TE), and time of break (TB) and pause (TP).</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> There were no significant differences among the control and the treatment groups in SBP, DBP and HR parameters. The extract showed statistically significant effect on mean RR by time period (F=2.45, p=0.0234), trends over time of TV among the dose groups (F=2.00, p=0.0202), and EF50 among dose groups ((F=3.11, p=0.0422). However, these did not correlate with the changes in the time of break (TB) and time of pause (TP) which are more sensitive and specific tests for respiratory irritation.</p><p><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Aqueous leaf extract of Quassia appeared to have no significant effects on SBP, DPB, Pulse pressure, and HR. There are no conclusive dose-related respiratory flow or pulmonary irritation effects.</p>