Cyperus articulatus L. (Cyperaceae) Rhizome Essential Oil Causes Cell Cycle Arrest in the G2/M Phase and Cell Death in HepG2 Cells and Inhibits the Development of Tumors in a Xenograft Model

Abstract

Cyperus articulatus L. (Cyperaceae), popularly known in Brazil as “priprioca” or “piriprioca”, is a tropical and subtropical plant used in popular medical practices to treat many diseases, including cancer. In this study, C. articulatus rhizome essential oil (EO), collected from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, was addressed in relation to its chemical composition, induction of cell death in vitro and inhibition of tumor development in vivo, using human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells as a cell model. EO was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and characterized qualitatively and quantitatively by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), respectively. The cytotoxic activity of EO was examined against five cancer cell lines (HepG2, HCT116, MCF-7, HL-60 and B16-F10) and one non-cancerous one (MRC-5) using the Alamar blue assay. Cell cycle distribution and cell death were investigated using flow cytometry in HepG2 cells treated with EO after 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. The cells were also stained with May–Grunwald–Giemsa to analyze the morphological changes. The anti-liver-cancer activity of EO in vivo was evaluated in C.B-17 severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice with HepG2 cell xenografts. The main representative substances of this EO sample were muskatone (11.6%), cyclocolorenone (10.3%), α-pinene (8.26%), pogostol (6.36%), α-copaene (4.83%) and caryophyllene oxide (4.82%). EO showed IC50 values for cancer cell lines ranging from 28.5 µg/mL for HepG2 to >50 µg/mL for HCT116, and an IC50 value for non-cancerous of 46.0 µg/mL (MRC-5), showing selectivity indices below 2-fold for all cancer cells tested. HepG2 cells treated with EO showed cell cycle arrest at G2/M along with internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. The morphological alterations included cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation. Treatment with EO also increased the percentage of apoptotic-like cells. The in vivo tumor mass inhibition rates of EO were 46.5–50.0%. The results obtained indicate the anti-liver-cancer potential of C. articulatus rhizome EO.

COE Inhibits Vasculogenic Mimicry by Targeting EphA2 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma, a Research Based on Proteomics Analysis

“…After the appearance of tumor with a 3 mm 3 volume, all tumor-bearing mice were enrolled randomly into subgroups (5 mice per group) and COE (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) or saline were administered through a gastric tube every day until the end of the experiment ( Qian et al, 2012 ). During the experiment, the length (L), width (W) and height (H) of tumors were measured with a caliper; tumor mass was calculated according to the previous report ( Nogueira et al, 2020 ).…”

Aristolone content analysis in ficus auriculata as predicted apoptotic activity in hela cells

“…In the in vitro trial Aristolone contained therein has an antiproliferative effect on the LoVo cell line with IC50 16.60 mg/ml. Aristolone stated as cytotoxic/anticancer potential (Ahmad, 2016), (Nogueira, 2020). Aristolone in this trial was found as much as 11.3%.…”

Essential Oil from Bark of Aniba parviflora (Meisn.) Mez (Lauraceae) Reduces HepG2 Cell Proliferation and Inhibits Tumor Development in a Xenograft Model

“…Animals were grafted subcutaneously with HepG2 cells (10 7 cells per 500 μL), in the left armpit and randomly divided into four groups: (G1) vehicle‐treated mice (5 % DMSO, n= 20); (G2) 5‐FU‐treated mice (10 mg/kg, n =10); (G3) EO‐treated mice (40 mg/kg, n =10); and (G4) EO‐treated mice (80 mg/kg, n =10). These doses were based on previous studies with EO [33–37] . Starting one day after tumor implantation, the animals were treated intraperitoneally for 21 consecutive days.…”