Comparison of effectiveness in antitumor activity between flavonoids and polyphenols of the methanolic extract of roots of Potentilla fulgens in breast cancer cells

Abstract

Potentilla fulgens has been used for a long time as folk remedy for a variety of ailments without having information on its pharmacological action. The study was intended to determine the effectiveness in antitumor activity among kaempferol (KMP) as flavonoids, ellagic acid (ELA) as polyphenols and methanolic extract of the root of P. fulgens (PRE) in Ehrlich ascites tumour (EA) and MCF-7 cancer cells. The total phenolic and flavonoid content were found to be 138.8 ± 1.6 mg gallic acid and 401.6 ± 4.6 mg quercetin per 1 gm of the extract, respectively. The extract resulted in increasing in vivo survivality of mice bearing EA cells and loss of cell viability in a dose-dependent manner in MCF-7 cells. This effect may be attributed to apoptotic cell death as confirmed by flow cytometric analysis and PARP1 proteolysis. Such induction of apoptosis was achieved by suppression of inhibitor of the apoptosis protein survivin. It was observed that endogenous level of glutathione was depleted significantly in MCF-7 cells after the treatment with PRE only but not with KMP or ELA. This induction of apoptotic cell death and lowering the level of glutathione are highly desirable mode for an anticancer agent.

Manuka honey: an emerging natural food with medicinal use

“…62 Further, gallic acid, an important phenolic acid present in manuka honey has been shown in an alcoholic extract of Potentilla fulgens which reduced Ehrlich ascites tumour in mice and MCF-7 cancer cells via induction of apoptosis by the inhibition of the protein survivin and glutathione lowering effect. 63 It must be stated that cell cultures do not represent a whole living organism, as the effects of digestion, enterocyte and hepatic conjugation of phytochemicals may modify their chemical structure and therefore their effectiveness. Further human trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of manuka honey phytochemicals both solo and in synergy.…”

Potentilla and Rubus medicinal plants

“…The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of P. fulgens were 138.8 AE 1.6 mg gallic acid and 401.6 AE 4.6 mg quercetin per 1 g of the extract, respectively (Radhika et al, 2012). The extract resulted in increasing in vivo survivality of mice bearing EA cells and loss of cell viability in a dose-dependent manner in MCF-7 cells.…”

“…The triterpenes corosolic acid and 2b,3b,19a-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid of P. chinensis show strong anticancer activities (Liu et al, 2006). Apoptosis induction of the methanolic extract of P. fulgens root was achieved by suppression of survivin, an antiapoptosis protein (Radhika et al, 2012). Endogenous level of glutathione was depleted significantly in MCF-7 cells after treating with P. fulgens root, but not with kaempferol or ellagic acid.…”

Anticariogenic potential of <em>Potentilla fulgens</em> extract and its chemical constituents

“…Root powder of this plant is generally consumed to strengthen the teeth and for management of dental complications [15]. Recently, a few reports on its cancer preventing and anti-diabetic properties have been documented [16][17]. We have earlier described isolation and structure elucidation of two new triterpene compounds along with several flavan-3-ol type of compounds from roots of Potentilla fulgens [18,19].…”