Urtica dioica Extract Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis and Related Gene Expression of Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo.

INTRODUCTION: Currently, because the prevalence of breast cancer and its consequent mortality has increased enormously in the female population, a number of studies have been designed to identify natural products with special antitumor properties. The main purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of Urtica dioica on triggering apoptosis and diminishing growth, size, and weight of the tumor in an allograft model of BALB/c mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, a BALB/c mouse model of breast cancer (4T1) was used. After emergence of tumor, 2 groups of mice received the extract, 1 group at a dose of 10 mg/kg and 1 group at a dose of 20 mg/kg, by intraperitoneal injection for 28 days. During the test and after removal of the tumor mass, the size and weight of the tumor were measured. To assess the induction of apoptosis in the cancer cells, the TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling) assay was performed. The Ki-67 test was used to evaluate tumor proliferation. RESULTS: The results showed that the tumor size in the mice treated with the extract decreased significantly. The weight of the tumor mass in the treated mice after resection was less than that in the control group. The TUNEL assay findings revealed that apoptosis occurred in the treated group. The Ki-67 test findings also demonstrated that administration of the extract suppressed the growth of tumor cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that U. dioica extract can decrease the growth of breast tumors and induce apoptosis in tumor cells; thus, it might represent an ideal therapeutic tool for breast cancer.

Growth inhibitory effect of Scrophularia oxysepala extract on mouse mammary carcinoma 4T1 cells in vitro and in vivo systems.

INTRODUCTION: Medical plants have been intensively studied as a source of antitumor compounds. In the present study, we determine the effect of Scrophularia oxysepala on triggering apoptosis and diminishing growth, size and weight of the tumor in the allograft model of Balb/c mice. MATERIAL & METHODS: The cytotoxic effects of Scrophularia oxysepala extract on 4T1 cells were studied using MTT (3-[4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2, 5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay and Trypan blue staining. DNA fragmentation assay was done for apoptosis detection. After the establishment of tumor in Balb/c mice, two groups of mice were received the extract at two doses of 50 and 100mg/kg respectively using intraperitoneal injection once every two days for 28 days. In order to assess the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells, the TUNEL assay was carried out in tumoral tissues. Moreover, the Ki67 test was used to evaluate tumor proliferation. RESULTS: According to the findings, the Scrophularia oxysepala extract inhibited cell growth. In vivo results showed that tumor size in mice treated with the extract was significantly reduced. The weight of tumor mass in treated mice after resection was less than the control group. According to the TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assay results, the herbal extract induced apoptosis in tumoral cells. Ki67 test also demonstrated that administration of the extract suppressed the growth of tumor cells. CONCLUSION: Our data well approved the anti-proliferative effect of Scrophularia oxysepala extract, and clearly showed that, the plant extract can decrease the growth of breast cancer cells in tumor mass. Thus it may represent an ideal therapeutic tool for breast cancer.

Anacyclus Pyrethrum Extract Exerts Anticancer Activities on the Human Colorectal Cancer Cell Line (HCT) by Targeting Apoptosis, Metastasis and Cell Cycle Arrest.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the USA. There are a number of medicinal plants triggering apoptosis response in cancer cells, thus have a therapeutic potential. On the other hand, due to traditional uses and availability of Anacyclus pyrethrum extract, we decided to evaluate the efficacy of this medicinal herb on human colorectal cancer cell line (HCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, the cytotoxic effects of Anacyclus pyrethrum extract were assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and trypan blue viability dye. Then, flow cytometry assay was exploited to measure cell death and apoptosis stage. The scratch test was exploited to assess the effect of Anacyclus pyrethrum on the migration of cancer cells. The expression levels of Caspase 3, Bcl-2, MMP1, and Vimentin genes were quantified by real-time PCR. Finally, cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: MTT assay showed that Anacyclus pyrethrum extract significantly inhibited the cell growth. According to the flow cytometry assay result, the herbal extract was able to induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. Our findings also demonstrated that the plant extract substantially increases the caspase 3 mRNA expression, while decreases Bcl-2, MMP1, and Vimentin. Cell cycle arrest occurred in G1 stage, due to the results of flow cytometry. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that Anacyclus pyrethrum extract can successfully induce apoptosis in HCT cells. Therefore, it could be used as a novel therapeutic candidate for colorectal cancer treatment.

The Herbal Medicine Utrica Dioica Inhibits Proliferation of Colorectal Cancer Cell Line by Inducing Apoptosis and Arrest at the G2/M Phase.

BACKGROUND: One of the major causes of cancer death internationally and the third most prevalent cancer in the world has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Although current routine treatments of cancer have been successful in some extent, mortality caused by adverse effects of these strategies is still raising. Medicinal plants are potential sources of anticancer compounds and can be exploited as a powerful complementary tool. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of nettle extract on mouse colorectal cancer cells, HCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, to evaluate the cytotoxicity of nettle extract, MTT assay and trypan blue were performed. Subsequently, DNA fragmentation and TUNEL test was carried out for determination of apoptosis. Real-time PCR test was used to quantify the expression of Caspase-3, Caspase-9, and Bcl-2 which is involved in apoptosis regulation. Finally, cell cycle analysis was conducted by using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The results of MTT assay showed that the dichloromethane extract of U. dioica extract significantly destroyed cancer cells HCT-116. DNA fragmentation and TUNEL test demonstrated that Utrica extract elicited apoptotic response in the cancer cells. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 markedly increased, while the Bcl-2 gene was conversely downregulated. Findings of flow cytometry confirmed that cell cycle arrest has occurred at the G2 phase. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our experiment showed that subjecting HCT-116 cells to dichloromethane extract of nettle (U. dioica), increases turnover of these cells. Thus, it may be a useful agent in the treatment of colorectal cancer.