Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Studies on Fruit-Skin Ethanol Extract of Annona muricata

Antitumour activity of Annona muricata L. leaf methanol extracts against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma and Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites mediated tumours in Swiss albino mice

The use of plants as a source of sedative or treatment for cancer is reasonably widespread worldwide. Annona muricata Linn exhibits a vast array of medicinal and ethno-pharmaceutical benefits, attributed by different plant parts. The activity of this plant is regarded to the bio-production of secondary metabolites like alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, and most unique group of compounds, namely, annonaceous acetogenins. Whilst this plant is gaining popularity as an anticancer treating plant, this study was undertaken to verify the plausible anticancer effect of leaf methanol extracts of A. muricata (LEAM). Acute toxicity study was carried to obtain safe dose in mice models using haematological, biochemical, and histological evaluations in Swiss albino mice. In-vitro cytotoxicity towards Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) and Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell lines were determined by trypan blue exclusion method. In-vivo antitumour activity of LEAM (100, 200, and 500mg/kg b.wt.) was evaluated using DLA induced solid carcinoma and EAC induced ascites carcinoma models and its comparison with standard drug Cisplatin. Acute toxicity studies did not exhibit significant variations in treated mice suggesting diminutive side effects of LEAM. Statistical analysis revealed the IC₅₀ values for DLA and EAC cell lines as 85.56 ± 5.28 and 68.07 ± 7.39 µg/mL, respectively, indicating better cytotoxic activity against EAC than DLA cells. LEAM decreased the tumour burden in dose-dependent manner. In comparison, with different concentrations tested, treatment with LEAM (200 mg/kg b.wt. and 500 mg/kg b.wt.) significantly reduced the solid tumour volume development by 58.11% and 65.70%, respectively. While lifespan was prolonged up to 51.43% in 500 mg/kg b.wt. LEAM treated ascites tumour-induced mice. This study thus indicates that LEAM possesses potent cytotoxic and antineoplastic activity and calls for more methodical safety assessments and other end-points of anti-tumourigenesis.

Abbreviations: LEAM: Leaf methanol extract of Annona muricata; DLA: Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites; EAC: Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma; IC₅₀: Half maximal inhibitory concentration; CPCSEA: Committee for the Purpose of Control Supervision of Experiments on Animal; IAEC: Institutional Animal Ethics Committee; ARRIVE: Animal Research: Reporting In-vivo Experiments; DMSO: Dimethyl sulphoxide; LD₅₀: Lethal Dose, 50%; SD: Standard Deviation; Hb: Haemoglobin; RBC: Red blood cells; WBC: White blood cells; HCT: Hematocrit; MCV: Mean cell volume; MCH: Mean cell haemoglobin; MCHC: Mean cell haemoglobin concentration; SALP: Serum alkaline phosphatase; SGPT: Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase; SGOT: Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase; ATP: Adenosine triphosphate; EGFR: Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

Effects of Annona muricata Extract on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells Mediated Through EGFR Signaling

Purpose

To evaluate the antiproliferative activity and the mechanisms of action of Annona muricata ethyl acetate (AMEA) extract and one of its active fractions on BT-20 TNBC cells.

Methods

The triple-negative human breast cancer BT-20 cells were used. After the preparation and extraction of Annona muricata ethyl acetate (AMEA), the ethyl acetate extract was exposed to a preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) plate. From this preparative TLC plate, eight individual bands were collected. Each band was scraped and removed from the plate and soaked in ethyl acetate. After filtration, all eight fractions were then tested on the BT-20 TNBC cells using the MTS cell viability assay. The expressions of EGFR, p-EGFR, AKT, p-AKT, MAPK, p-MAPK, cyclin D1, and NF-κB p65 were measured using Western blot analysis.

Results

The AMEA showed a significant decrease in NF-κB p65 protein expression and BT-20 cell viability, as determined via the MTS assay. Furthermore, the AMEA was subjected to preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC), and eight fractions were obtained. From the eight fractions, only fraction 4 (F4) showed a significant reduction in cell viability in the MTS assay. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that AMEA and F4 formed an antiproliferative effect. These effects were complemented by a downregulation of cyclin D1 assembly, causing cell-cycle arrest at the G1/S phase. Furthermore, NF-κB was measured because of its involvement in the progression of cancers.

Conclusion

The antiproliferative influence is produced through EGFR-mediated signaling pathways, which include AKT, MAPK, NF-κB, and cyclin D1 inhibition. Further studies will be required to demonstrate the possible applications of this natural product in breast cancer therapy.