ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vernonia divaricata is one of five endemic Vernonia species of Jamaica. The ethno-medicinal uses of other species have been established, however, scientific validation of this species has not yet been done and as such this paper is aimed at identifying the anti-cancer activity of V divaricata against leukaemia, breast and prostate cancer cell lines. METHODS: Leaves and stems of V divaricata were dried and milled into powder. The crude hexane and methanol extracts of the leaves and stems were obtained and bio-assayed using WST-1 cell proliferation assay against leukaemia, breast and prostate cancer cell lines. RESULTS: The crude hexane and methanol extracts of V divaricata were able to significantly retard the growth of the MCF-7 (breast), HL-60 (leukaemia) and the PC-3 (prostate) cancer cell lines. The crude methanol extract of the stem was the strongest, exhibiting anti-proliferation activity with IC50 values of 10.14, 12.63 and 9.894 µg/ml for the HL-60, MCF-7 and PC-3 cancer cell lines, respectively, with the most potent toward prostate cancer. CONCLUSION: The medicinal use of V divaricata as an anti-cancer agent was corroborated as the crude hexane and methanol extracts demonstrated potent anti-proliferation activity and as such hold potential for further research and development into a drug to prevent or treat various cancers.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Tillandsia recurvata, also commonly known as Ball Moss, is endemic to Jamaica and some parts of the Caribbean and South America. The plant, despite being reported to be used in folk medicine, had not previously been evaluated for its anti-cancer potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-cancer activity ofBall Moss. METHODS: The anti-proliferation activity of the crude methanolic extract of the T recurvata was evaluated in vitro in five different histogenic cancer cell lines (prostate cancer - PC-3, breast cancer Kaposi sarcoma, B-16 melanoma and a B-cell lymphoma from a transgenic mouse strain) using the trypan blue assay. The crude extract was also evaluated in vivo in tumour-bearing mice. Immunohistochemistry staining with Apoptag was used for histology and determination of apoptosis. RESULTS: The crude methanolic extract of T recurvata demonstrated anti-proliferation activity against all the cell lines, killing > 50% of the cells at a concentration of 2.5 microg/ml. Kaposi sarcoma xenograft tumours were inhibited by up to 75% compared to control in the in vivo study (p < 0.05). There was evidence of DNA fragmentation and a decrease in cell viability on histological studies. The methanolic extract showed no toxic effect in the mice at a dose of 200 mg/kg. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that T recurvata has great potential as an anti-cancer agent and that one of its mechanisms of cell kill and tumour inhibition is by the induction of apoptosis.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Apoptosis/drug effects , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Tillandsia , Animals , Breast Neoplasms , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Survival/drug effects , DNA/drug effects , Female , Humans , Jamaica , Lymphoma, B-Cell , Male , Melanoma , Mice , Prostatic Neoplasms , Sarcoma, Kaposi , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays/methodsABSTRACT
An export herb industry would promote and facilitate the production and industrialization of medicinal and other herbs for an export market, which is estimated to be worth US$ 58 billion and growing at 15 percent annually. This will have far-reaching impact on many sectors such as health, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, finance, foreign affairs and trade. The pursuit of this industry involves R&D, production, industrialization and commrcialization of the selected herbs. Import substitution of approximately US$ 2.5 million is also involved. Jamaica has the ability and sustainable advantages to ensure the success of this project. Several of 120 major medicinal plants in the world can grow here. Jamaica also has a large unemployed rural labour force, which could produce primary and value added products. The public sector will support R&D capacity for this project. The socio-economic benefits are significant and widespread. This represents an opportunity to attract our youth into agriculture and reduce rural poverty. It can minimize the dislocation of small farmers, threatened byliberalization, and removal of preferential free trade of outputs in which they are not likely to develop competitiveness in the medium term. This project will shift labour from producing illegal drugs into the production of high value medicinal herbs. The production and export of herbs will not require production subsidies. This industry will enhance the product and improve the affordability of local health care
Subject(s)
Humans , Extraction and Processing Industry , Jamaica , Plants, MedicinalABSTRACT
An export herb industry would promote and facilitate the production and industrialization of medicinal and other herbs for an export market, which is estimated to be worth US$ 58 billion and growing at 15 percent annually. This will have far-reaching impact on many sectors such as health, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, finance, foreign affairs and trade. The pursuit of this industry involves R&D, production, industrialization and commercialization of the selected herbs. Import substitution of approximately US$ 2.5 million is also involved. Jamaica has the ability and sustainable advantages to ensure the success of this project. Several of 120 major medicinal plants in the world can grow here. Jamaica also has a large unemployed rural labour force, which could produce primary and value added products. The public sector will support R&D capacity for this project. The socio-economic benefits are significant and widespread. This represents an opportunity to attract our youth into agriculture and reduce rural poverty. It can minimize the dislocation of small farmers, threatened byliberalization, and removal of preferential free trade of outputs in which they are not likely to develop competitiveness in the medium term. This project will shift labour from producing illegal drugs into the production of high value medicinal herbs. The production and export of herbs will not require production subsidies. This industry will enhance the product and improve the affordability of local health care (AU)
