Anti-proliferative and apoptosis induction activities of extracts from Thai medicinal plant recipes selected from MANOSROI II database

Momordica charantia L. induces non-apoptotic cell death in human MDA-MB-436 breast and A549 lung cancer cells by disrupting energy metabolism and exacerbating reactive oxygen species' generation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Bitter melon, Momordica charantia L. (MC), is an ethnomedicinal plant cultivated in different climes. It's cytotoxic effect on several cancer cell lines has been evaluated. However, there have been contrasting reports on the actual mechanism (s) involved in the observed cell death induced by MC.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

To probe the mechanism of cell death induction in MDA-MB-436 (Breast) and A549 (lung) cancer cell lines treated with fractions (ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and hexane) derived from the aqueous extract of MC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Aqeous extract of the leaves of MC were fractionated using solvents of different polarities (ethyl acetate (D3), n-hexane (D4), dichloromethane (D5)). The cells were incubated with 100 and 125 μg/mL of the fractions 24 hours. Combination of fluorescence microscopy, enzyme assays, Western blot analyses and flow cytometry were employed in the study.

RESULTS

Treatment of the cells with MC fractions reduced Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP) and intracellular ATP levels, while increasing reactive oxygen species levels without classical biochemical and morphological apoptotic features were seen. However, the fractions failed in upregulating either caspase-3 activation or cytochrome c release in the cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

Overall, these results suggest that the cytotoxic effect of MC on the selected cancer cells is mediated by loss of mitochondrial function via loss of respiration leading to cell death rather than by the classical release of cytochrome c or caspase-3 activated apoptosis.

Potent in vitro Anti-mouth Cancer (KB) and Immunostimulating Activities of the Job's Tears (Coix lachryma-jobi Linn.) Seed Semi-purified Extract Cocktails Containing Linoleic Acid

The crude methanolic and hexane extracts of non-cooked, steamed and roasted from three Job's Tears cultivars were prepared and further semi-purified by liquid-liquid extraction techniques and silica gel column. The six single semi-purified extracts (F1-F6) were combined as nine cocktails (CT1, CT6, CT8, CT13, CT14, CT21, CT24, CT25 and CT31) according to the IC₅₀ values from the preliminary study and investigated for anti-proliferative and apoptotic induction on mouth cancer cell line (KB) and immunostimulating as well as antioxidative activities. The highest anti-proliferative activity was observed in CT13 showing the IC₅₀ value of 0.53±0.45 µg/mL which was higher than 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin of 20.34 and 1.60 times, respectively. CT1 which was the combination of F1-F6 and CT13 which was the combination of F4-F6 exhibited significant strong synergistic activity with the combination index value (CI) of 0.28. CT1 at 200 µg/mL showed the highest percentages of apoptotic cells (40.65±10.97%) with no necrotic cells, but lower than cisplatin (100 µg/mL) of 2.18 times. CT14 gave the highest immunostimulating activity with the phagocytosis percentage of 13.0±1.7%, but lower than lipopolysaccharide of 1.08 times. CT31 gave the highest free radical scavenging and metal chelating activities with the SC₅₀ and MC₅₀ values of 0.73±0.07 and 1.99±0.24 µg/mL, but lower than ascorbic acid and EDTA of 18.25 and 4.33 times, respectively. The linoleic acid contents related to anti-cancer activity were also examined by HPLC. This study has demonstrated that CT1 composing of F1-F6 at the percentage ratio of 0.71:2.06:81.38: 8.47:4.92:2.46 was the potential cocktails of the semi-purified extracts from the Job's Tears which can be further developed as a novel active compound for oral cancer treatment.

Potent in vitro anti-proliferative, apoptotic and anti-oxidative activities of semi-purified Job's tears (Coix lachryma-jobi Linn.) extracts from different preparation methods on 5 human cancer cell lines

ETHONOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCES

Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi Linn.) is commonly used as an herbal medicine. The low incidence of cancer has been observed in the area of China where regularly consume Job's tears. The effects of preparation methods of Job's tears on anti-cancer activities were investigated. Potent in vitro anti-proliferative, apoptotic and anti-oxidative activities of semi-purified Job's tears extracts from different preparation methods on 5 human cancer cell lines comparing with standards and commercial product were observed.

AIM OF STUDY

To study the anti-proliferative, apoptotic and anti-oxidative activities of semi-purified Job's tear extracts from different preparation methods on 5 human cancer cell lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The crude methanolic extracts of non-cooked, steamed and roasted Job's tears cultivars were prepared and further semi-purified by liquid-liquid extraction techniques. Both of crude and semi-purified extracts were tested for anti-proliferative, apoptotic induction, anti-oxidative activities and phytochemicals content.

RESULTS

The highest yields of crude and-purified extracts were 4.60% and 1.46%, respectively. In crude extracts, the steamed whole Thai Black Loei Job's tears (W-TBL-S1) extract showed the highest anti-proliferative activity in mouth epidermal carcinoma cell (KB) at the IC50 of 43.61±0.76μg/ml (0.005 folds of doxorubicin), whereas the roasted whole Laos White Loei Job's tears (W-LWL-R2) extract showed the highest apoptotic activity in cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) at 21.52±1.50% (0.22 and 15.05 folds of doxorubicin and commercial product, respectively). After liquid-liquid extraction, almost all of the semi-purified extracts showed increases in anti-proliferative activity. Ethyl acetate fraction of the roasted whole Laos White Loei Job's tears (W-LWL-R2) showed the highest anti-proliferative activity in HeLa cell at the IC50 of 0.97±0.82μg/ml (7.82 and 45.39 folds of doxorubicin and crude extract, respectively) and apoptotic activity of 18.77±6.31% (0.19 folds of doxorubicin). The commercial product showed no anti-proliferative activity in all cell lines but induced apoptosis in HeLa cell at 1.43±0.34%. The butanol and hexane soluble fractions of the roasted whole of Laos White Loei Job's tears (W-LWL-R2) showed the highest free radical scavenging (SC50) and metal chelating activity (MC50) of 0.31±0.06mg/ml (0.64 folds of ascorbic acid) and 0.08±0.01mg/ml (6.37 folds of EDTA), respectively. All ethyl acetate fractions contain high content of carotenoid and tannin, whereas the hexane soluble fraction of the roasted hull of Laos Black Loei Job's tears (H-LBL-R1) showed the highest linoleic acid content of 8.09±0.74% w/w.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has demonstrated the potent anti-cancer activity of the semi-purified extracts from roasted Job's tears with high potential for further development to modern anti-cancer drug.

Potent anti-proliferative effects against oral and cervical cancers of Thai medicinal plants selected from the Thai/Lanna medicinal plant recipe database "MANOSROI III"

CONTEXT

Thai/Lanna medicinal plant recipes have been used for the treatment of several diseases including oral and cervical cancers.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate anti-proliferative activity on human cervical (HeLa) and oral (KB) cancer cell lines of medicinal plants selected from Thai/Lanna medicinal plant recipe database "MANOSROI III".

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-three methanolic plant crude extracts were tested for phytochemicals and anti-proliferative activity on HeLa and KB cell lines for 24 h by the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay at the doses of 1 × 10(1)-1 × 10(-6 )mg/ml. The nine extracts with the concentrations giving 50% growth inhibition (GI50) lower than 100 µg/ml were further semi-purified by liquid/liquid partition in order to evaluate and enhance the anti-proliferative potency.

RESULTS

All extracts contained steroids/triterpenoids, but not xanthones. The methanolic extracts of Gloriosa superba L. (Colchinaceae) root and Albizia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. (Leguminosae-Mimosoideae) wood gave the highest anti-proliferative activity on HeLa and KB cell lines with the GI50 values of 0.91 (6.0- and 0.31-fold of cisplatin and doxorubicin) and 0.16 µg/ml (28.78- and 82.29-fold of cisplatin and doxorubicin), respectively. Hexane and methanol-water fractions of G. superba exhibited the highest anti-proliferative activity on HeLa and KB cell lines with the GI50 values of 0.15 (37- and 1.9-fold of cisplatin and doxorubicin) and 0.058 µg/ml (77.45- and 221.46-fold of cisplatin and doxorubicin), respectively.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

This study has demonstrated the potential of plants selected from MANOSROI III database especially G. superba and A. chinensis for further development as anti-oral and cervical cancer agents.

Potent Antiproliferative Effect on Liver Cancer of Medicinal Plants Selected from the Thai/Lanna Medicinal Plant Recipe Database "MANOSROI III"

Thai/Lanna medicinal plant recipes have been used for the treatment of several diseases including liver cancer. In this study, methanolic extracts (MEs) of 23 plants were tested for antiproliferative activity on human hepatoma cell line (Hep G2) by the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Nine MEs with potent antiproliferative activity (IC50 < 100 µg/mL) were obtained and further semipurified by liquid/liquid partition extraction. The semipurified fractions were tested for the antiproliferative and antioxidative activities. ME of Stemona collinsae and the semipurified extract and methanol-water fraction (MF) of Gloriosa superba gave the highest antiproliferative activity on HepG2 which were 4.79- and 50.07-fold cisplatin, respectively. The semipurified fractions showed an increased antiproliferative activity. MF of Caesalpinia sappan and HF of Senna alata showed the highest free radical scavenging and metal chelating activities, respectively. The compound in n-hexane fraction (HF) of Ventilago denticulata which showed an increase in antiproliferative activity comparing to its ME was isolated and identified as emodin. This study has demonstrated the potential of the ME from S. collinsae, MF from G. superba, and emodin isolated from V. denticulata, for further development as an antiliver cancer agent.

In vitro anti-cancer activities of Job's tears (Coix lachryma-jobi Linn.) extracts on human colon adenocarcinoma

The whole seed (W), endosperm (E) and hull (H) of five cultivars of Job’s tears (Coix lachryma-jobi Linn. var. ma-yuen Stapf) including Thai Black Phayao, Thai Black Loei, Laos Black Loei, Laos White Loei and Laos Black Luang Phra Bang were processed before solvent extraction by non-cooking, roasting, boiling and steaming Each part of the Job’s tears was extracted by the cold and hot process by refluxing with methanol and hexane. The total of 330 extracts included 150 methanol extracts and 180 hexane extracts were investigated for anti-proliferative activity on human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29) by the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The extracts which gave high anti-proliferative activity were tested for apoptotic activity by acridine orange and ethidium bromide double staining and anti-oxidative activities including free radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition activities. The extract from the hull of Thai Black Loei roasted before extracting by hot methanol (M-HTBL-R2) showed the highest anti-proliferative activity on HT-29 with the IC₅₀ values of 11.61 ± 0.95 μg/ml, while the extract from the non-cooked hull of Thai Black Loei by cold methanol extraction (M-HTBL-N1) gave the highest apoptosis (8.17 ± 1.18%) with no necrosis. In addition, M-HTBL-R2 and M-HTBL-N1 indicated free radical scavenging activity at the SC₅₀ values of 0.48 ± 0.12 and 2.47 ± 1.15 mg/ml, respectively. This study has demonstrated the anti-colorectal cancer potential of the M-HTBL-R2 and M-HTBL-N1 extracts.

In vitro anti-proliferative activity on colon cancer cell line (HT-29) of Thai medicinal plants selected from Thai/Lanna medicinal plant recipe database "MANOSROI III"

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Thai/Lanna region has its own folklore wisdoms including the traditional medicinal plant recipes. Thai/Lanna medicinal plant recipe database "MANOSROI III" has been developed by Prof. Dr. Jiradej Manosroi. It consists of over 200,000 recipes for all diseases including cancer. To investigate the anti-proliferative and apoptotic activities on human colon cancer cell line (HT-29) as well as the cancer cell selectivity of the methanolic extracts (MEs) and fractions of the 23 selected plants from the "MANOSROI III" database.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The 23 selected plants were extracted with methanol under reflux and evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity by sulforhodamine B assay. The 5 plants (Gloriosa superba, Caesalpinia sappan, Fibraurea tinctoria, Ventilago denticulata and Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) with potent anti-proliferative activity were fractionated by liquid-liquid partition to give 4 fractions including each hexane (HF), methanol-water (MF), n-butanol (BF) and water (WF) fractions. They were tested for anti-proliferative activity and cancer cell selectivity. The ME and fractions of G. superba which showed potent anti-proliferative activity were further examined for morphological changes and apoptotic activities by acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) staining.

RESULTS

The ME of G. superba root showed active with the highest anti-proliferative activity at 9.17 and 1.58 folds of cisplatin and doxorubicin, respectively. After liquid-liquid partition, HF of V. denticulata, MFs of F. tinctoria, V. denticulata and BF of P. tetragonolobus showed higher anti-proliferative activities than their MEs. The MF of G. superba indicated the highest anti-proliferative activity at 7.73 and 1.34 folds of cisplatin and doxorubicin, respectively, but only 0.86 fold of its ME. The ME and HF, MF and BF of G. superba and MF of F. tinctoria demonstrated high cancer cell selectivity. At 50 µg/ml, ME, HF, MF and BF of G. superba demonstrated higher apoptotic activities than the two standard drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

This present study has not only confirmed the traditional use of the Thai/Lanna medicinal plant recipes for cancer treatments, but also the potential of the selected plant, G. superba for the further development as a modern anti-cancer drug.

Potent anti-cervical cancer activity: synergistic effects of Thai medicinal plants in recipe N040 selected from the MANOSROI III database

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCES

One of the prestigious Thai/Lanna folklore wisdoms is the medicinal plant recipes. Thai/Lanna medicinal plant recipe database MANOSROI III has been developed by Prof. Dr. Jiradej Manosroi. It consists of over 200,000 recipes covering all diseases including cancer.

AIM OF THIS STUDY

To investigate the in vitro and in vivo anti-cervical cancer activity and the active constituents of the Thai medicinal plant recipe N040 selected from the MANOSROI III database.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The extracts of recipe N040 and single medicinal plants in the recipe were prepared by hot water and methanol extraction, respectively. The n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (n-BuOH) and water fractions of Caesalpinia sappan, the plant which showed the highest anti-proliferative activity were prepared by liquid-liquid partition extraction. The fraction which showed the highest anti-proliferative activity was further isolated for active constituents. Anti-proliferative activity of recipe N040, methanolic extracts, fractions of Caesalpinia sappan and brazilin, an active constituent on HeLa cell were investigated using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Anti-oxidative activities including free radical scavenging and metal ion-chelating activities, as well as the phenolic and flavonoid contents of these fractions were also determined. The in vivo anti-cancer activity of recipe N040 on HeLa cell xenograft and the subchronic toxicity were performed in nude mice and rats, respectively.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

N040 showed the potent in vitro anti-proliferative activity on HeLa cell with the IC50 value of 0.11 µg/ml. Phytochemicals detected in the plants were steroids/triterpenoids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids. For the single plant, methanolic extract of Caesalpinia sappan gave the highest anti-proliferative activity with the IC50 of 33.46 µg/ml. EtOAc fraction of Caesalpinia sappan showed the highest anti-proliferative and free radical scavenging activities with the IC50 and SC50 of 17.81 and 21.95 µg/ml which were 1.88 and 0.83 folds of its methanolic extract and ascorbic acid, respectively. Poor metal chelating activity (MC50>500 µg/ml) was observed in methanolic extract and all fractions. The highest phenolic and flavonoid contents were observed in the methanolic extract. Brazilin, the known compound isolated from the EtOAc fraction exhibited potent anti-proliferative activity with the IC50 of 0.28 µg/ml which was higher than its methanolic extract and EtOAc fraction of 119.50 and 63.61 folds, respectively, but only 0.39 fold of the recipe extract N040. The tumor size of the HeLa cell xenograft nude mice treated with the recipe N040 at the dose of 44.50mg/kg body weight per day was significantly smaller (p<0.05) than that of the control with the relative tumor weight inhibition of 57.23% which was 0.65 fold of cisplatin. In the subchronic toxicity study, N040 given orally at the dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight per day for 90 days showed no alteration in body weight gain, hematology [except the increase mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) in the treated male rats] and clinical blood chemistry (except the increase blood glucose in the treated male rats) both in female and male rats. Only minor lesions of the organs including lung, liver, kidney and small intestine were observed in both sexes. This study has demonstrated the synergistic effect of the plants composed in the recipe which resulted in the potent anti-cancer activity and confirmed the traditionally use of the recipe N040. In addition, this study has also suggested the compound brazilin isolated from Caesalpinia sappan for its high potential to be further investigated as a novel anti-cervical cancer drug.

Anti-proliferative activities on HeLa cancer cell line of Thai medicinal plant recipes selected from MANOSROI II database

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The Thai/Lanna medicinal plant recipe database "MANOSROI II" contained the medicinal plant recipes of all regions in Thailand for the treatment of various diseases including anti-cancer medicinal plant recipes.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate anti-proliferative activity on HeLa cell lines of medicinal plant recipes selected from the Thai/Lanna medicinal plant recipe database "MANOSROI II".

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The forty aqueous extracts of Thai/Lanna medicinal plant recipes selected from the Thai/Lanna medicinal plant recipe database "MANOSROI II" were investigated for anti-proliferative activity on HeLa cell line by SRB assay. The apoptosis induction by caspase-3 activity and MMP-2 inhibition activity by zymography on HeLa cell line of the three selected aqueous extracts, which gave the highest anti-proliferative activity were determined. Phytochemicals and anti-oxidative activities including free radical scavenging activity, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and metal chelating inhibition activities were also investigated.

RESULT

Sixty percentages of the medicinal plant recipes selected from "MANOSROI II" database showed anti-proliferative activity on HeLa cell line. The recipes of N031(Albizia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr, Cassia fistula L., and Dargea volubilis Benth.ex Hook. etc.), N039 (Nymphoides indica L., Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.), and Polyalthia debilis Finet et Gagnep etc.) and N040 (Nymphoides indica L. Kuntze, Sida rhombifolia L., and Xylinbaria minutiflora Pierre. etc.) gave higher anti-proliferative activity than the standard anti-cancer drug, cisplatin of 1.25, 1.29 and 30.18 times, respectively. The positive relationship between the anti-proliferative activity and the MMP-2 inhibition activity and metal chelating inhibition activity was observed, but no relationship between the anti-proliferative activity and apoptosis induction, free radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition activity. Phytochemicals found in these extracts were alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and xanthones, but not anthraquinones and carotenoids. The recipe N040 exhibited the highest anti-proliferative and MMP-2 inhibition on HeLa cancer cell line at 30 and threefolds of cisplatin, respectively (p<0.05), while recipe N031 gave the highest caspase-3 activity (1.29-folds over the control) (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study has demonstrated that recipe N040 selected from MANOSROI II database appeared to be a good candidate with high potential for the further development as an anti-cancer agent.