The effect of an Annona muricata leaf extract on nutritional status and cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Annona muricata leaf infusion has traditionally been consumed to maintain health, but is now considered for use in treating cancer patients. The objective of this study was to elucidate the effects of A. muricata leaf extract in humans and human cell lines. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Thirty outpatients with colorectal cancer who had undergone primary tumor resection were enrolled in a randomized double-blind placebo- controlled pre-post-trial. They were divided into two groups: those who ingested A. muricata leaf extract (n=14) and those who ingested a placebo (n=14) daily for 8 weeks. Twenty-eight subjects completed the trial; they were equally distributed between the two groups. Serum from patients of both groups was compared for cytotoxicity against colorectal cancer cell lines. The nutritional status of patients was monitored throughout the study. RESULTS: Ex vivo and clinical studies showed higher cytotoxicity in the supplemented group compared with the placebo group. Further research is required to investigate the long-term effect of A.muricata leaf extract, particularly on parameters directly related to cytotoxic activity toward colorectal cancer cells and nutrition status.

The Value of Caspase-3 after the Application of Annona muricata Leaf Extract in COLO-205 Colorectal Cancer Cell Line.

Annona muricata, commonly known as soursop, contains annonacin, acetogenin, and polyphenol which are known to have chemopreventive effects on cancer. In this study, we tend to evaluate the apoptosis-inducing effect of soursop (Annona muricata) leaf extract on the colorectal cancer cell line COLO-205 through the activities of caspase-3 which is a marker of cell apoptosis. Cell cultures were incubated with soursop leaf with a concentration of 10 µg/ml and then compared with those of the incubated positive control leucovorin 10 µg/ml and placebo as a negative control. The apoptotic activity of caspase-3 was measured with ELISA. After the administration of each treatment in the colorectal cancer cell line COLO-205, the expression of caspase-3 activity was 1422 ng/ml after incubation with the extract of Annona muricata leaves, 1373 ng/ml after the administration of leucovorin, and 1297 ng/ml in the one with placebo. Annona muricata leaf extract elevated caspase-3 by 1.09 times compared to that of the pure cell line. Annona muricata leaf extract had a higher value of caspase-3 activity than leucovorin and placebo in the COLO-205 colorectal cancer cell line. These results may suggest that Annona muricata leaf extract had anticancer properties by enhancing caspase-3 activity which is a proapoptotic marker.