Medicinal properties of Angelica archangelica root extract: Cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells and its protective effects against in vivo tumor development.

OBJECTIVE: Although Angelica archangelica is a medicinal and aromatic plant with a long history of use for both medicinal and food purposes, there are no studies regarding the antineoplastic activity of its root. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antitumor effects of the crude extract of A. archangelica root (CEAA) on breast cancer. METHODS: The cytotoxicity of CEAA against breast adenocarcinoma cells (4T1 and MCF-7) was evaluated by a 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Morphological and biochemical changes were detected by Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide (PI) and annexin V/PI staining. Cytosolic calcium mobilization was evaluated in cells staining with FURA-4NW. Immunoblotting was used to determine the effect of CEAA on anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and Bax, respectively). The 4T1 cell-challenged mice were used for in vivo assay. RESULTS: Using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, angelicin, a constituent of the roots and leaves of A. archangelica, was found to be the major constituent of the CEAA evaluated in this study (73 µg/mL). The CEAA was cytotoxic for both breast cancer cell lines studied but not for human fibroblasts. Treatment of 4T1 cells with the CEAA increased Bax protein levels accompanied by decreased Bcl-2 expression, in the presence of cleaved caspase-3 and cytosolic calcium mobilization, suggesting mitochondrial involvement in breast cancer cell death induced by the CEAA in this cell line. No changes on the Bcl-2/Bax ratio were observed in CEAA-treated MCF7 cells. Gavage administration of the CEAA (500 mg/kg) to 4T1 cell-challenged mice significantly decreased tumor growth when compared with untreated animals. CONCLUSION: Altogether, our data show the antitumor potential of the CEAA against breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Further research is necessary to better elucidate the pharmacological application of the CEAA in breast cancer therapy.

Controle de qualidade de fitoterápicos no Brasil: avaliação diagnóstica e propostas de intervenção / Control de calidad de los medicamentos a base de plantas en Brasil: evaluación de diagnósti-co y propuestas de intervención / Quality control of herbal products in Brazil: diagnostic evaluation and intervention proposals

A partir de levantamento em bancos de dados gerais da web, procurou-se conhecer os estudos brasileiros relacionados a controle de qualidade de drogas vegetais e fitoterápicos, objetivando-se traçar um diagnóstico e apontar soluções técnicas para sua melhoria. Assim, dentre milhares de estudos resgatados com as palavras chave «controle de qualidade», «drogas vegetais», «fitoterápicos» e «plantas medicinais», selecionou-se os relativos ao Brasil e alinhou-se um conjunto e problemas envolvendo a falta de especificações técnicas de muitas drogas vegetais, problemas de identidade por nomes populares iguais e espécies do mesmo gênero, problemas de pureza e aspectos relacionados à qualidade química. Destaca-se também a importância da cromatografia em camada delgada no contexto do controle de qualidade, como a adulteração de produtos à base de Ginkgo biloba e Cynara scolymus. Existem vários problemas de qualidade no mercado fitoterápico brasileiro que precisam ser equacionados, de modo a permitir o adequado crescimento da fitoterapia (AU)

A partir de la consulta de bases de datos de la web, se procuró conocer los estudios brasileños relacionados con el con-trol de calidad de drogas vegetales y productos fitoterápicos, tratando de trazar un diagnóstico y aportar soluciones técnicas para su mejora. A partir de las palabras clave «control de calidad, "drogas vegetales", "fitoterápicos" y "plantas medicinales" fueron obtenidos millares de estudios sobre esta temática, se seleccionaron los trabajos relativos al Brasil y se identificaron un conjunto de problemas incluyendo la falta de especificaciones técnicas para muchas drogas vegetales, problemas de identidad por nombres populares iguales en especies del mismo género, problemas de pureza y aspectos relacionados con la calidad química. Se destacan también la importancia de la cromatografía de capa fina en el contexto del control de calidad, como en la adulteración de productos a base de Ginkgo biloba y Cyanara scolymus. Existen varios problemas de calidad en el mercado fitoterápico brasileño que necesitan ser tenidos en cuenta para conseguir un adecuado crecimiento de la fitoterapia

Based on the search in web-based databases, the Brazilian studies related to the quality control of herbal drugs and herbal remedies were investigated with the objective of establishing a diagnostic of the situation and pointing out technical solutions for its improvement. From thousands of papers found using the key words «quality control», «herbal drugs», «herbal remedies» and «medicinal plants», only those relative to Brazil were selected. A group of problems were detected involving the lack of technical specifications for several herbal drugs, identity problems due to common popular names for different species of the same genus, purity problems and several aspects related to the chemical quality. The importance of thin layer chromatography is highlighted in the context of quality control, such as the adulteration of products based on Ginkgo biloba and Cynara scolymus. There are several problems in the Brazilian herbal market which need to be addressed in order to achieve the adequate growth of phytotherapy (AU)