Aqueous Ocimum gratissimum extract induces cell apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Molecular docking, MMGBSA, and ADMET studies of phytoconstituents of Ocimum gratissimum on multiple breast cancer targets

O. gratissimum is one of the most common medicinal plants in every community in Nigeria. This plant has been presumed to be useful in the management of diseases including breast cancer, which is one the commonest cancers affecting women globally. Hence, this study aimed to computationally investigate the phytochemicals present in O. gratissimum by elucidate their binding dynamics against five selected molecular targets of breast cancer and predict their pharmacokinetics properties. Molecular docking, MMGBSA calculation and ADMET prediction were used. The results showed that isovitexin has the highest binding affinity of -9.11 kcal/mol and -9.80 kcal/mol for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) respectively. Rosmarinic acid has the highest binding affinity of -12.15 kcal/mol for Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Nepetoidin A has the highest binding affinity of -9.14 kcal/mol for oestrogen receptor (ER), and Vitexin has the highest binding affinity of -12.90 kcal/mol for Progesterone receptor (PR). MMGBSA provided total binding energy that confirmed the stability of the complexes under physiological conditions. The ADMET profiles showed that O. gratissimum top phytochemicals identified would be safe for oral administration with no hepatoxicity. Overall, this study identified isovitexin, vitexin, rosmarinic acid, nepetoidin A and luteolin among others, as compounds that exhibit strong anti-cancer properties against breast cancer cells.

Coleus vettiveroides ethanolic root extract induces cytotoxicity by intrinsic apoptosis in HepG2 cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) contributes to more than 80% of all primary cancers globally and ranks fourth in cancer-related deaths, due to the lack of an effective, definite therapeutic drug. Coleus vettiveroides (CV) has been used in Indian traditional medicine to treat diabetes, liver ailments, skin diseases, leukoderma, and leprosy. This study investigates the anticancer effect of CV ethanolic root extract in HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were treated with CV extract, and its cytotoxicity was analyzed by MTT assay. AO/EB staining, propidium iodide staining, DCFH-DA assay, phalloidine staining, flow cytometry, and qPCR studies were performed for ROS expression, apoptosis and cell cycle analysis. The phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of quercetin and galangin in CV root extract. The results showed that CV inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells, with altered cellular and nuclear morphology. CV was also found to increase intracellular ROS levels and oxidative stress markers in HepG2 cells. CV significantly altered the actin microfilament distribution in HepG2 cells and caused cell cycle arrest at the sub G0 -G1 phase. CV also induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, as evidenced by increased expression of p53, Bax, cytochrome C, Apaf-1, PARP, caspase-3 and caspase-9, and downregulated Bcl-2 expression. Therefore, CV exerts its anticancer effect by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, cytoskeletal disorganization, cell cycle arrest, and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, and it could be a potent therapeutic option for HCC.

Acacia catechu seed extract provokes cytotoxicity via apoptosis by intrinsic pathway in HepG2 cells

Acacia catechu Willd (Fabaceae) is a thorny tree widely distributed in India and commonly used as traditional Ayurvedic medicine for various ailments. The current study evaluates the cytotoxic potentials of A. catechu ethanolic seed extract (ACSE) in HepG2 cells, a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. The HepG2 cells were treated with 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30, 100, 300 and 1000 μg/ml of ACSE and the cytotoxic effect was evaluated by MTT and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage assays. The IC₅₀ of ACSE was found at 77.04 μg/ml and therefore, further studies were carried out with the concentrations of 35 and 70 μg/ml. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and apoptosis-related morphological changes were evaluated. Gene expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome C (Cyt-c), caspases-9 and 3 were analyzed by qPCR. The ACSE treatments caused LDH leakage was associated with an increased ROS generation. The increased ROS generation was associated with the downregulation of intracellular antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione content. AO/EB and PI staining also confirmed chromatin condensation and apoptosis. The flow cytometric analysis showed an accumulation of HepG2 cells at sub G0/G1 (apoptotic) phase upon ACSE treatments. The ACSE induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress were related to increased apoptotic marker gene expressions such as Bax, Cyt-c, caspase-9 and 3, and decreased anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2. The current finding suggests that ACSE has apoptosis-inducing potential via the mitochondrial pathway in HepG2 cells.

A review on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of clove basil (Ocimum gratissimum L.)

In traditional medicine, Ocimum gratissimum (clove basil) is used in the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes, cancer, inflammation, anaemia, diarrhoea, pains, and fungal and bacterial infections. The present study reviewed the phytochemicals, essential oils, and pharmacological activities of O. gratissimum. The bioactive compounds extracted from O. gratissimum include phytochemicals (oleanolic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, epicatechin, sinapic acid, rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, luteolin, apigenin, nepetoidin, xanthomicrol, nevadensin, salvigenin, gallic acid, catechin, quercetin, rutin, and kaempfero) and essential oils (camphene, β-caryophyllene, α- and β-pinene, α-humulene, sabinene, β-myrcene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, trans-β-ocimene, linalool, α- and δ-terpineol, eugenol, α-copaene, β-elemene, p-cymene, thymol, and carvacrol). Various in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that O. gratissimum and its bioactive constituents possess pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antidiarrhoeal, and antimicrobial properties. This review demonstrated that O. gratissimum has a strong preventive and therapeutic effect against several diseases. The effectiveness of O. gratissimum to ameliorate various diseases may be attributed to its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties as well as its capacity to improve the antioxidant systems. However, despite the widespread pharmacological activities of O. gratissimum, further experiments in human clinical trial studies are needed to establish effective and safe doses for the treatment of various diseases.

Alkaloidal extract from Carica papaya seeds ameliorates CCl4-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third cause of cancer-related mortality globally. However, available treatments are expensive and are associated with adverse effects or poor treatment outcomes in advanced disease. Meanwhile, plants like Carica papaya have demonstrated various biological activities that further studies may lead to the identification of newer and safer treatment options for HCC.

Aim

To evaluate the anticancer activity of an alkaloidal extract derived from Carica papaya seeds using rodent models of HCC.

Experimental procedure

Carica Papaya fruits were collected and authenticated. The seeds were isolated and air-dried. Alkaloidal extract was prepared from a 70% ethanol soxhlet crude extract and referred to as Carica papaya alkaloidal extract (CPAE). HCC was induced in 68 out of 84 healthy male Sprague Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) for 16 weeks. These rats were put into five groups of 10; Carica papaya alkaloidal extract [(CPAE) (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg), Lenvatinib (4 mg/kg)], 1% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), and 2 untreated groups (control and model). A prophylaxis study was performed with 10 rats by co-administration of CPAE (200 mg/kg) and CCl₄ six hours apart for 16 weeks. Rats were sacrificed after a twelve-week treatment program under anesthesia for histological, hematological, and biochemical analyses.

Results and conclusion

CPAE (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly restored weight loss (48.44 and 51.75% respectively), reduced tumor multiplicity, and dose-dependently reversed liver histomorphological changes induced by CCl₄ compared to the model group. The CPAE (100 and 200 mg/kg) further reduced bleeding time, improved prothrombin time and restored platelet count (p < 0.01) compared to the model. The CPAE (200 mg/kg) again significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced serum alpha-fetoprotein levels compared to the model group and prevented the establishment of HCC in rats when concerrently administered with CCl₄ in 16 weeks prophylactic study.