Crude aqueous extracts of Pluchea indica (L.) Less. inhibit proliferation and migration of cancer cells through induction of p53-dependent cell death

Abstract

BackgroundPluchea indica (L.) Less. (Asteraceae) is a perennial shrub plant with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant medicinal properties. However, the anti-cancer properties of its aqueous extracts have not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-proliferation, anti-migration, and pro-apoptotic properties of crude aqueous extracts of P. indica leaf and root on human malignant glioma cancer cells and human cervical cancer cells, and the underlying molecular mechanism.MethodsGBM8401 human glioma cells and HeLa cervical carcinoma cells were treated with various concentrations of crude aqueous extracts of P. indica leaf and root and cancer cell proliferation and viability were measured by cell growth curves, trypan blue exclusions, and the tetrazolium reduction assay. Effects of the crude aqueous extracts on focus formation, migration, and apoptosis of cancer cells were studied as well. The molecular mechanism that contributed to the anti-cancer activities of crude aqueous extracts of P. indica root was also examined using Western blotting analysis.ResultsCrude aqueous extracts of P. indica leaf and root suppressed proliferation, viability, and migration of GBM8401 and HeLa cells. Treatment with crude aqueous extracts of P. indica leaf and root for 48 hours resulted in a significant 75% and 70% inhibition on proliferation and viability of GBM8401 and HeLa cancer cells, respectively. Crude aqueous extracts of P. indica root inhibited focus formation and promoted apoptosis of HeLa cells. It was found that phosphorylated-p53 and p21 were induced in GBM8401 and HeLa cells treated with crude aqueous extracts of P. indica root. Expression of phosphorylated-AKT was decreased in HeLa cells treated with crude aqueous extracts of P. indica root.ConclusionThe in vitro anti-cancer effects of crude aqueous extracts of P. indica leaf and root indicate that it has sufficient potential to warrant further examination and development as a new anti-cancer agent.

Hexane fraction of Pluchea indica root extract inhibits proliferation and induces autophagy in human glioblastoma cells

“…Previous findings have demonstrated the anticancer properties of crude aqueous fraction and ethanol fraction of the P. indica root extract (20). The present study further investigated the suppressive effects of H-PIRE on GBM cells.…”

“…The P. indica plants used in experiments in this study were collected and verified as described in a previous study (20). The roots of P. indica were prepared as a dried powder and deposited at the National Sun Yat-sen University (Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.)…”

“…After 24 and 48 h of incubation with H-PIRE or DMSO, 1x10 5 cells were collected and suspended in 100 µl staining buffer containing 5 µl of FITC Annexin V and 5 µl propidium iodide (PI) at room temperature in the dark. After 15 min, 400 µl 1X binding buffer was added and flow cytometric analysis was performed as previously described (20).…”

“…Quinic acid esters from the leaves of P. indica showed inhibitory activities towards collagenase, MMP-2 and -9 (19). In vitro studies also revealed that crude aqueous extracts and ethanol extracts of P. indica root effectively suppress human malignant glioma cancer cells and human cervical cancer cells (20,21).…”

Indian Black Scorpion (Heterometrus bengalensis) Venom Action Neutralization by Indian Medicinal Plants in Experimental Animals

“…Previous studies indicated the presence of alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannin, lignin in Hemidesmus indicus root extract, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannin, saponin, proanthocyanidins in Pluchea indica root extract and essential oil, aristolochic acid, isoaristolochic acid, sesquiterpene, ishwarol, aristololactam, 12-nonacosenoic acid in Aristolochia indica root extract [33][34][35]. These bioactive compounds might be responsible against experimental scorpion envenomation.…”