Exploring the Least Studied Australian Eucalypt Genera: Corymbia and Angophora for Phytochemicals with Anticancer Activity against Pancreatic Malignancies

Abstract

While the pharmacological and toxicological properties of eucalypts are well known in indigenous Australian medicinal practice, investigations of the bioactivity of eucalypt extracts against high mortality diseases such as pancreatic cancer in Western medicine have to date been limited, particularly amongst the genera Corymbia and Angophora. Four Angophora and Corymbia species were evaluated for their phytochemical profile and efficacy against both primary and secondary pancreatic cancer cell lines. The aqueous leaf extract of Angophora hispida exhibited statistically higher total phenolic content (107.85 ± 1.46 mg of gallic acid equiv. per g) and total flavonoid content (57.96 ± 1.93 mg rutin equiv. per g) and antioxidant capacity compared to the other tested eucalypts (P < 0.05). Both A. hispida and A. floribunda aqueous extracts showed statistically similar saponin contents. Angophora floribunda extract exerted significantly greater cell growth inhibition of 77.91 ± 4.93% followed by A. hispida with 62.04 ± 7.47% (P < 0.05) at 100 μg/ml in MIA PaCa-2 cells with IC values of 75.58 and 87.28 μg/ml, respectively. More studies are required to isolate and identify the bioactive compounds from these two Angophora species and to determine their mode of action against pancreatic malignancies.

Insight in the Recent Application of Polyphenols From Biomass

“…In terms of structural differences, polyphenols can be further divided into four categories: phenolic acids, astragalus, lignans, and flavonoids ( Table 1 ). A couple of studies have demonstrated the dominant biomass polyphenols that are found in common foods, including gallic catechins in green tea, resveratrol in grapes, capsaicin in chilis and peppers, curcumin in turmeric, genistein in soybean, and gingerol in ginger ( Bhuyan, 2018 ). Investigation of the biological outcomes of these particular edible goods allows for a better understanding of the structural details related to the functionalities of polyphenols.…”

Herbals and Plants in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review of Experimental and Clinical Studies

“…Caspase 3/7-mediated apoptosis and morphological changes of cells were also witnessed in MIA PaCa-2 cells [123]. In a subsequent study [124], the same group of investigators found that Angophora floribunda extract exerted a greater cell growth inhibition followed by A. hispida in MIA PC-2 cells.…”

The Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry and Bioactivities of the Corymbia Genus (Myrtaceae)

“…- Leaves and bark are used as antiseptics, expectorants, and treatments for influenza and colds, toothaches [28,29] and diarrhoea [29]; hot water extracts of the dried leaves are used to treat colds, influenzas, respiratory infections and sinus congestion [30][31][32][33][34][35]; water extracts are also used to treat, vomiting, nausea, indigestion, bloating, irritable bowel and abdominal pain [30]; leaves are used in India and Africa to treat obesity, ageing, cardiovascular illnesses, diabetes and respiratory problems [36,37]; in Nigeria, leaves are boiled and consumed for the treatment of typhoid fever, stomach aches and malaria [38]; Dharawal people use leaves to treat inflammation, wounds and fungal infections [39]. Kino is traditionally used to treat diarrhoea and bladder inflammation and is applied to cuts and abrasions [40,41].…”