Potential Benefits of Annona muricata in Combating Cancer: A Review

Amazonian Fruits for Treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The Amazon region has a high biodiversity of flora, with an elevated variety of fruits, such as Camu-Camu (Myrciaria dúbia), Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), Tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum and Astrocaryum vulgare), Fruta-do-conde (Annona squamosa L.), Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum), Graviola (Annona muricata L.), Guarana (Paullinia cupana Kunth var. sorbilis), and Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora), among many others, that are rich in phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins with prominent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.

RECENT FINDINGS

Studies evaluating the chemical composition of these fruits have observed a high content of nutrients and bioactive compounds. Such components are associated with significant biological effects in treating various non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and related complications. Regular intake of these fruits from Amazonas emerges as a potential therapeutic approach to preventing and treating NCDs as a nutritional strategy to reduce the incidence or mitigate common complications in these patients, which are the leading global causes of death. As studies remain largely unexplored, this narrative review discusses the possible health-beneficial effects for patients with NCDs.

Anti-cancer effects of green synthesized gold nanoparticles using leaf extract of Annona muricata. L against squamous cell carcinoma cell line 15 through apoptotic pathway

Background

Oral cancer remains one of the most dreadful diseases in developing nations. Currently, there has been a rise in the prevalence of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), with a poor prognosis. The use of standard treatment approaches against oral cancer patients brings about several side effects. In recent years, nanomedicine has provided a versatile platform for developing new targeted therapeutic modalities. However, safety remains a concern in the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs). Therefore, the present study aims to synthesize safer phytoconstituent-mediated gold NPs (AuNPs) utilizing leaf extracts of Annona muricata, where the biochemical components of the plant leaf act as the reducing and capping agents in the synthesis of NPs, and to evaluate its anti-cancer activity against SCC.

Materials and Methods

In this in vitro experimental study, AuNPs were synthesized through an effective, simple, and ecologically sound green synthesis method. After characterization of these synthesized AuNPs, in vitro assays such as 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazole2-yl)-2, 5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide, wound healing, and clonogenic assays were carried out to investigate the anti-cancer potential of green synthesized AuNPs in the human tongue SCC cell line (SCC-15), and the possible mechanism of action was evaluated through gene and protein expression analysis of Bax, Bcl-2, and p53 genes. The results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 20.0 software and Student's t-test was performed for experimental data. P ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

The in vitro assays demonstrated that the synthesized AuNPs are exhibiting anti-cancer activity by apoptosis of SCC-15 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Further, it also revealed a highly significant decrease in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene expression, whereas pro-apoptotic genes p53 and Bax revealed a highly significant increase, which is statistically significant compared to the control (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated that the AuNPs synthesized from A. muricata leaf extract could act as a novel anticancer agent, particularly against SCC, after further scrutiny.

A Review on Annona muricata and Its Anticancer Activity

Simple Summary

Cancer is becoming more prevalent, raising concerns regarding how well current treatments work. Cancer patients frequently seek alternative treatments to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The use of medicinal plants in both preventative and curative healthcare is widely acknowledged. The compounds of graviola have shown promise as possible cancer-fighting agents and could be used to treat cancer. This review discusses bioactive metabolites present in graviola and their role in affecting the growth and death of different cancer cell types and the molecular mechanism of how it works to downregulate anti-apoptotic genes and the genes involved in pro-cancer metabolic pathways. Also, it reviews how simultaneously increasing the expression of genes promotes apoptosis and causes cancer cells to die so that the active phytochemicals found in graviola could be used as a promising anti-cancer agent.

Abstract

The ongoing rise in the number of cancer cases raises concerns regarding the efficacy of the various treatment methods that are currently available. Consequently, patients are looking for alternatives to traditional cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy as a replacement. Medicinal plants are universally acknowledged as the cornerstone of preventative medicine and therapeutic practices. Annona muricata is a member of the family Annonaceae and is familiar for its medicinal properties. A. muricata has been identified to have promising compounds that could potentially be utilized for the treatment of cancer. The most prevalent phytochemical components identified and isolated from this plant are alkaloids, phenols, and acetogenins. This review focuses on the role of A. muricata extract against various types of cancer, modulation of cellular proliferation and necrosis, and bioactive metabolites responsible for various pharmacological activities along with their ethnomedicinal uses. Additionally, this review highlights the molecular mechanism of the role of A. muricata extract in downregulating anti-apoptotic and several genes involved in the pro-cancer metabolic pathways and decreasing the expression of proteins involved in cell invasion and metastasis while upregulating proapoptotic genes and genes involved in the destruction of cancer cells. Therefore, the active phytochemicals identified in A. muricata have the potential to be employed as a promising anti-cancer agent.

Histopathological Evaluation of Annona muricata in TAA-Induced Liver Injury in Rats

This research in vivo assessed the impact of the ethanolic extract of Annona muricata (A. muricata) on the histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and biochemistry of thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver cirrhosis in Sprague Dawley rats. The rats, gavaged precisely with two doses of A. muricata (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) with TAA, presented a substantial reduction in the liver index and hepatocyte propagation, with much lower cell injury. These groups showed meaningfully down-regulated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the liver and spleen, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) in liver parenchymal tissue. The liver homogenate displayed enhanced antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, along with a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The serum levels of bilirubin, total protein, albumin, and liver enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were returned to normal and were similar to that of the normal control and silymarin with TAA-treated groups. Oral acute toxicity revealed no evidence of any toxic symbols or mortality in rats, indicating the safety of A. muricata. Therefore, the normal microanatomy of hepatocytes, the clampdown of PCNA, α-SMA, TGF-β, improved antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), and condensed MDA with repairs of liver biomarkers validate the hepatoprotective effect of A. muricata.

Annonaceous Acetogenin Mimic AA005 Inhibits the Growth of TNBC MDA-MB-468 Cells by Altering Cell Energy Metabolism

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a serious health issue for women worldwide and there is still no suitable treatment option. AA005, a structurally simplified mimic of natural Annonaceous acetogenins, presents outstanding properties with impressive cytotoxicity and cell-type selective actions. The present study was aimed at evaluating the potential of AA005 as a therapeutic agent for TNBC. AA005 potently inhibited the growth of TNBC cells at 50 nM level. Inspired by the finding of the phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) tumor suppressor, the effect of AA005 on aerobic glycolysis was investigated in TNBC MDA-MB-468 cells. A short-term AA005 exposure markedly suppressed mitochondrial function in MDA-MB-468 cells, thus activating the aerobic glycolysis to lessen the risk of decreased ATP generation in mitochondria. Prolonging the incubation time of AA005 clearly weakened the aerobic glycolysis in the cells. This was in part attributed to the PI3K-AKT pathway inactivation and subsequent declined glucose uptake. As a consequence, the energy supply was completely cut from the two major energy-producing pathways. Further experiments showed that AA005 resulted in irreversible damage on cell activity including cell cycle and growth, inducing mitochondrial oxidative stress and ultimately leading to cell death. In addition, the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of AA005 was proved on 4T1 xenograft tumor mice model. Our data demonstrate that AA005 exhibited a great potential for future clinical applications in TNBC therapy.

A Review on the Nutraceutical Anti-Metastatic Importance of Annona Muricata Crude Extract (AMCE) and its Coping Mechanism Against Breast Cancer

Background:

Annona Muricata is used as a folkloric herbal medicine as it has anticancer, antiproliferative and anti-tumorigenic properties. The extracts from various parts of the plant are considered therapeutic due to Annonaceous Acetogenin compounds which are an absolute boon to the versatility of the plant, paving the mechanistic pathways for its therapeutic potential.

Method:

Google Scholar and PubMed databases were reviewed with the main focus on availing information on Annona muricata and its anticancer effect on breast cancer.

Results and Discussion:

- An array of clinical investigations on the dosage of extracts on cell lines, animal models, and human trials provide confirmatory insights of A. muricata as a preventive and therapeutic measure for cancer. The extract when administered at different dosages shows a high cytotoxic effect on the cancer cells, mostly accounting for an IC50 of less than 1000µg/mL which is of significance.

Conclusion -:

Although high efficacy has been conclusive, assurance of the safety prior to commercialization is of significance. Investigations are required to define the origin and magnitude of side effects along with long-term safety for the enhancement of efficacy and optimum utilization of potential chemo-preventive properties of the plant for the curation of a nutraceutical intervention for cancer that surpasses the traditional medicine.

Cervical anticancer activities of Annona squamosa Linn. leaf isolate

Background and Aim:

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death, the need for new anticancer herbal drugs is becoming more urgent considering the side effects of synthetic drugs. This study aimed to determine the anticancer activity of isolates derived from the methanol extract of Annona squamosa Linn. leaves and to identify the compounds that have an active effect against HeLa cells.

Materials and Methods:

The leaf metabolites of A. squamosa L. were extracted using methanol at room temperature (28°C) and were partitioned into n-hexane, chloroform, and n-butanol. The toxicity test of these extracts was conducted using a brine shrimp lethality assay. Furthermore, the most toxic extracts were separated and purified using silica gel column chromatography to yield four isolate fractions: FA, FB, FC, and FD. The most toxic isolates were tested for anticancer against HeLa cells, and their compounds were identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Results:

The results showed that the most toxic isolate with an LC₅₀ value of 100.00 ppm had a potency similar to that of an anticancer agent with an IC₅₀ value of 70.9021 ppm. Furthermore, the five compounds identified in this isolate include (6S, 7aR)-6-hydroxy-4,4,7a-trimethyl-6,7-dihydro-5H-1-benzofuran-2-one or loliolide, cocamidopropyl betaine, N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]dodecanamide or lauramidopropyl dimethylamine, linolenic acid, and 1-dodecyl-2-azepanone or laurocapram.

Conclusion:

It can be concluded that the leaf isolates of A. squamosa Linn. had shown anticancer activities against cervical cancer.

Annona muricata Linn and Khaya grandifoliola C.DC. Reduce Oxidative Stress In Vitro and Ameliorate Plasmodium berghei-Induced Parasitemia and Cytokines in BALB/c Mice

Background.

Annona muricata and Khaya grandifoliola are ethnomedicinally used for the treatment of malaria and have been experimentally shown to have an anti-plasmodial effect, but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. This study investigated the effect of the ethanol extracts of their leaves on parasitemia, radical scavenging and cytokines in Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected BALB/c mice.

Methods.

BALB/c mice were infected with P. berghei and treated with chloroquine, A. muricata or K. grandifoliola extract for 4 days. The percentage of parasitemia and the level of cytokine expression were determined after treatment. Trace element, phytochemical and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging properties assays were done to study the antioxidant effects of AN and KG in vitro.

Results.

P. berghei consistently increased parasitemia in BALB/c mice. The tested doses (100-, 200-, and 400 mg/kg) of A. muricata and K. grandifoliola attenuated the P. berghei-induced elevation of parasitemia and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-5, and IL-6) in vivo during the experimental period, though not as much as chloroquine. Moreover, both extracts scavenged the DPPH and NO radicals, though A. muricata had more anti-oxidant effect than K. grandifoliola in-vitro.

Conclusion.

The ethanol extracts of A. muricata and K. grandifoliola reduce parasitemia in P. berghei-treated mice BALB/c by scavenging free radicals and reducing cytokines, though the extracts were not as effective as chloroquine.

Annona muricata L. extract decreases intestinal glucose absorption and improves glucose tolerance in normal and diabetic rats

Introduction: Poorly controlled hyperglycemia causes numerous health complications. Postprandial hyperglycemia is an important indicator of diabetic status. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of Annona muricata L. extract on the in vitro intestinal glucose absorption in diabetic rats and in vivo antihyperglycemic activity in both normal and diabetic rats. Methods: Phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract from the leaves of A. muricata was carried out. Albino rats were randomly assigned into normal and diabetic groups. Each group was divided into three subgroups: control (vehicle), experimental (A. muricata), and standard (Metformin) groups, to determine antihyperglycemic activity at different times after glucose overload. The everted intestinal sac technique was used to study intestinal glucose absorption in diabetic rats. Results: Aqueous leaf extract of Peruvian A. muricata exhibited statistically significant (P < 0.05) in vivo antihyperglycemic activity in both normal and diabetic rats when compared to the control group. The magnitude of the effect was similar to metformin treatment. Moreover, the aqueous leaf extract of A. muricata significantly diminished in vitro intestinal glucose absorption, with a magnitude similar to metformin treatment. Phytochemical analysis of the aqueous extract revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and leucoanthocyanidins, among others. Conclusion: This study reveals that A. muricata aqueous extract is able to reduce in vitro intestinal glucose absorption and improve oral glucose tolerance in rats.

In vitro studies of Annona muricata L. extract-loaded electrospun scaffolds for localized treatment of breast cancer

This paper presents in vitro studies of the sustained release of Annona muricata leaf extracts (AME) from hybrid electrospun fibers for breast cancer treatment. Electrospun hybrid scaffolds were fabricated from crude AME extracts, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/gelatin (PLGA/Ge) and pluronic F127. The physicochemical properties of the AME extract and scaffolds were studied. The antiproliferative effects of the scaffolds were also assessed on breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and non-tumorigenic breast (MCF10A) cell lines. Scanning electron microscope micrographs revealed a random network of micro- and submicron fibers. In vitro drug release profiles, governed by quasi-Fickian diffusion at pH 7.4 and non-Fickian super case II at pH 6.7, showed initial burst AME release from the PLGA/Ge-AME and PLGA/Ge-F127/AME fibers at pH 7.4, and burst release from PLGA/Ge-F127/AME (not observed from PLGA/Ge-AME) at pH 6.7. Then, a slower, sustained release of the remaining AME from the fibers, attributed to the onset of degradation of the PLGA/Ge backbone, was observed for the next 72 hr. The cumulative release of AME was 89.33 ± 0.73% (PLGA/Ge-AME) and 51.17 ± 7.96% (PLGA/Ge-F127/AME) at pH 7.4, and 9.27 ± 2.3% and 73.5 ± 4.5%, respectively, at pH 6.7. Pluronic F127 addition increased the drug loading capacity and prolonged the sustained AME release from the fibers. The released AME significantly inhibited the in vitro growth of the breast cancer cells more than the non-tumorigenic cells, due to the induction of apoptosis, providing evidence for using pluronic F127-containing electrospun fibers for sustained and localized AME delivery to breast cancer cells.

Nutritional, phytochemical, and in vitro anticancer potential of sugar apple (Annona squamosa) fruits

In plants, Fruits and their wastes are the main sources of bioactive compounds. Currently, Annona fruits have attracted the attention of people interested in health-promoting foods due to their phytochemical content that their activities were not studied before. This study aimed to explore the potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, and in vitro anticancer activity of two cultivars Annona squamosa (Annona b. and Annona h.) seed, peel, and pulp. We also meausred phenolic, flavonoid, sulfated polysaccharide, tannins, and triterpenoids. Polyphenol identification was determined using RP-HPLC. Results of the antioxidant activity revealed that the highest activity was observed for Annona h. seed extract using DPPH and ABTS assays with IC₅₀ 6.07 ± 0.50 and 9.58 ± 0.53 µg/ml, respectively. The antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic strains revealed that the peel extracts of both Annona b. and Annona h. exhibited the best antimicrobial activity. We also assessed the IC₅₀ values for anticancer activity in all six Annona b. and Annona h samples against four cancer cell lines colon (Caco-2), prostate (PC3), liver (HepG-2), and breast (MCF-7) using MTT assay. Annona b. and Annona h seed extracts had the lowest IC₅₀ values for four cancer cell lines with 7.31 ± 0.03 and 15.99 ± 1.25 for PC-3 and MCF-7, respectively. Both seed extracts, Annona b. and Annona h., showed significantly down-regulated mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and up-regulated p53 in all treated cell lines. Apoptosis was evaluated using nuclear staining, flow cytometric analysis, and immunohistochemistry of the proliferation marker (Ki-67). Additional studies are required to characterize the bioactive compounds responsible for the observed activities of Annona seed and determine its mechanism as an anticancer drug.

Anticancer effects of Morinda lucida and Annona muricata on immunomodulations of Melatonin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and p53 concentrations in lead acetate-induced toxicity in rats

OBJECTIVES

Lead poisoning accounts for about 0.6% of global burden of disease. Lead-induced toxicity is through confinement of oxidative stress in affected organs. We evaluated the effects of MLF1 (extracted from Morinda lucida leaves) and AMF1 (extracted from Annona muricata leaves) on lipid peroxidation and immunomodulations of Melatonin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and p53 proteins in lead acetate (LA)-induced toxicity in rats.

METHODS

Sixty adult female rats were randomly divided into 12 groups (n = 5). Groups 1 and 2 received physiological saline and 100 mg/kg bodyweight of LA, respectively, for 5 weeks. Groups 3-6 received 100 mg/kg bodyweight LA for 2 weeks, followed by treatments with 7.5 and 15 mg/kg bodyweight of MLF1, and 7.5 and 10 mg/kg bodyweight of AMF1, respectively, for 3 weeks. Groups 7-10 received 7.5 and 15 mg/kg bodyweight of MLF1, 7.5 and 10 mg/kg bodyweight of AMF1, respectively, for 5 weeks. Groups 11-12 received co-administrations of 100 mg/kg bodyweight LA with 15 mg/kg bodyweight MLF1 and 10 mg/kg bodyweight of AMF1, respectively, for 5 weeks. Drugs and extracts were administered orally. Consequently, liver histopathology (Hematoxylin and Eosin), sera Melatonin, and TNF-α (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) levels were evaluated. Malondialdehyde (MDA) (thiobarbituric acid assay) and p53 (ELISA) levels were evaluated in liver homogenates. Data were statistically analyzed (P ≤ 0.05).

RESULTS

Results showed normal liver histology in all Groups. Statistical analyses showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) and non-significant decreased levels (P ≥ 0.05) of MDA, TNF-α and p53 in Groups 3-12, compared with Group 2. Furthermore, results showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) and non-significant increased Melatonin levels (P ≥ 0.05) in Groups 4-12 compared with Group 2.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed that MLF1 and AMF1 confer a degree of antioxidant, anticancer and hepato-protetive potentials against LA-induced toxicity in rats.

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

Biological Activity of Selected Compounds from Annona muricata Seed as Antibreast Cancer Agents: Theoretical Study

Several natural products have been of help to humans, and its effect is noticeable in the medicinal world. Soursop with botanical name Annona muricata L. possesses antidiarrhea, anticold fever, antirheumatism, and antineuralgia properties. In this work, five selected molecular compounds were studied against type 3 of 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3α-HSD). Its anticancer activity was investigated using the quantum chemical method via Spartan 14 software, molecular docking via Discovery studio 2017, AutoDock Tool 1.5.6, AutoDock Vina 1.1.2, and PyMol 1.7.4.4 and the molecular dynamic simulation method via AMBER14 molecular dynamics package. Many descriptors (EHOMO, ELUMO, dipole moment, energy bandgap, area, volume, polarizability, polar surface area, Log P, hydrogen bond donor, and hydrogen bond acceptor) which describe the anticancer activity of the studied compounds were obtained. Also, the docking study revealed the inhibiting ability of the studied compound, and it was observed that compound C possesses a greater ability to inhibit than other studied compounds as well as the standard (5FU).

Photo-assisted bio-fabrication of silver nanoparticles using Annona muricata leaf extract: exploring the antioxidant, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities

Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles is reputed to have a robust range of biomedical applications. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) bio-fabricated using aqueous leaf extract of Annona muricata were characterized and evaluated for in-vitro antioxidant, lipid peroxidation inhibition, anti-diabetic and antimicrobial activities as well as cytotoxicity in human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT). The extract induced colour change of silver salt solution which absorbed at 420 nm and confirmed the formation of AgNPs. FTIR showed that free amide and hydroxyl groups were responsible for the synthesized nanoparticles. Both XRD and SAED confirmed the crystalline nature of the particles with face centered cubic (FCC) phase. The zeta potential revealed -27.2 mV potential and average distribution size of 35 nm. DLS indicated that the majority of the particles were 86.78 nm size and with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.329. AgNPs displayed strong activities against DPPH (IC50 = 51.80 μg/ml), ABTS (IC50 = 30.78 μg/ml), α-amylase (IC50 = 0.90 μg/ml) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 3.32 μg/ml). The particles exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation with effective antimicrobial activity against a battery of bacterial strains and cytotoxicity in HaCaT cell line. These findings revealed the potential biomedical applications of the particles and further work will be required to establish its molecular mechanism of action.

In vitro evaluation of Annona muricata L. (Soursop) leaf methanol extracts on inhibition of tumorigenicity and metastasis of breast cancer cells

PURPOSE

The present study evaluates the in-vitro anti-tumorigenic potential of leaf methanol extracts of Annona muricata (LMAM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cytotoxic activity was assessed in MCF-7 cells by MTT assay at various concentrations ranging from 25-250µg/mL. MCF-7 cells were treated with 50 and 100 µg/mL LMAM for 24 h. To detect LMAM-induced apoptosis; Hoescht 33342 staining along with Cell cycle analysis, Annexin-PI probe as well as oxidative stress damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurements were determined using flow cytometric analysis. While caspase-3 expression levels were studied employing the qRT-PCR method.

RESULTS

LMAM exhibited significant inhibition of MCF-7 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 85.55 µg/mL. Hoescht staining showed marked morphological features characteristic of apoptosis in LMAM treated cells. Cell cycle analysis confirmed the proven capability of LMAM showing a 30% rise in G₁ phase upon treatment with 100 µg/mL LMAM, thus inducing cell cycle arrest at G₁ phase and a rise in sub G₀-G₁ population paralleled with a decrease in S phase. Flow cytometric analysis with Annexin V-FITC-PI staining indicated an increase in the early and late apoptotic population with a 3.38% and 19.47% rise respectively when treated with 100 µg/mL LMAM. Treatment with 100 µg/mL LMAM caused an increase in intracellular ROS with MFI value 3334.08. Upregulation of caspase-3 was observed with a 2.18 and 32.47 fold increase compared to control in MCF-7 cells cultured at 50 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL LMAM respectively suggesting caspase-dependent apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

LMAM proved as a potent ethno-chemopreventive agent and a potential lead in cancer treatment attributable to the synergistic interactive properties of phytoconstituents.

Anticancer and Apoptogenic Effect of Graviola and Low-Dose Radiation in Tumor Xenograft in Mice

Background: Annona muricata (graviola) has been claimed for its potential against various diseases including cancer. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the anticancer effect of graviola extract on Ehrlich solid tumor (EST) mice along with or without a low dose of γ radiation (LDR). Methods: Mice were treated with graviola 50 mg/kg body weight orally for 30 days after EST induction and exposed to γ-ray (2 Gy/week for 3 weeks). Cell cycle, CD44, TGF-β, Bcl-2, and annexin V were determined in tumor tissue. Results: The result obtained showed a significant decrease (P < .05) of tumor size in 28 graviola-treated EST-bearing mice group (EG) or graviola-treated and irradiated EST-30-bearing mice (EGR) groups versus the EST group. The large number of cells in the sub-G0/G1 population and low cell number at S and M phases signify tumor cell apoptosis and inhibition of cell division in EG or EGR groups. Additionally, significant increases in the expression of CD44 and TGF-β were recorded in EST mice as compared with EG or EGR mice. Furthermore, EST mice exhibited a decrease in the apoptotic marker annexin v and increase in antiapoptotic Bcl-2 compared with EG and EGR mice. Conclusion: It could be suggested that graviola exerts its antitumor effect throughout the regulation of the tumor cell cycle as well as inducing apoptotic signals. The combined treatment of graviola and LDR augments their effect on tumor proliferation.

Phytochemical profile and antioxidation activity of annona fruit and its effect on lymphoma cell proliferation

Cancers of the lymphatic system are broadly classified into Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin types. Although lymphomas can be effectively treated with chemotherapy, this approach is associated with the risk of adverse side effects. High intake of certain vegetables and fruits is associated with a reduced risk of cancer development. We hypothesized that Annona fruit, which is rich in fibers and phytochemicals that are known to possess anticancer properties, can be effective in inhibiting lymphoma growth. The Annona fruit's fractions were extracted with water, methanol, or chloroform and then assayed for total phenolic, flavonoids, and tannins content; antioxidation activities; and inhibition of in vitro cell proliferation using the Ramos-1 lymphoma cells. The methanol fractions contained the highest phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins content, and antioxidation activity. However, the methanol extracts of skin, pulp, and seeds had a moderate whereas the chloroform extracts of pulp and seeds had strong effects on Ramos-1 cell proliferation. Our findings suggest that Annona fruits may be effective in the prevention or treatment of lymphoma.