Cleome arabicaleaf extract has anticancer properties in human cancer cells

Abstract

Context: Cleome arabica L. (Capparidaceae) is a desert plant widely distributed in the North part of Africa whose leaves are used in traditional medicine as a sedative for abdominal and rheumatic pains. Objectives: The anticancer activity of methanol Cleome arabica leaf extracts (CALE) is investigated in different human cancer cell lines. Materials and methods: Five different human cancer cell lines, representative of the most common cancers in Western countries (i.e., breast adenocarcinoma, colon carcinoma, neuroblastoma, hepatoma, cervix carcinoma) were treated with different concentrations of CALE (i.e., 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/ml). Cell viability and cell cycle were measured by using a hemocytometer chamber and a cytofluorimeter, respectively. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was used as a positive control. Western blots were performed to evaluate the CALE effects on pathways involved in cell growth regulation and on apoptotic cascade activation. Results and conclusion: Our results confirm that CALE has a high content of polyphenolic compounds (i.e., 32.21 AE 3.44%), mainly as flavonoids (24.56 AE 4.67%). In all tested cell lines CALE treatment reduces cell number in a dose-dependent manner (ED 50 ¼ 175 AE 30 mg/ml). CALE (100 and 200 mg/ml) increases by three-fold the activation of the apoptotic cascade involving caspase-3 activation and the cleavage of its substrate poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Intriguingly, CALE treatment (200 mg/ml) also blocks EGF-induced cell growth by preventing the growth factor-triggered AKT and ERK phosphorylation. As a whole, these data strongly suggest that CALE possesses anticancer effects in all tested cancer cell lines.

North African Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used in Cancer Therapy

“…The anticancer effects of a methanolic extract of Cleome arabica have been described against several cell lines. SK-N-BE neuroblastoma cells were the most sensitives ones to this extract (Tigrine et al, 2013). Saffron ( Crocus sativus ) exerted antiproliferative activity against two aggressive prostate cancer cell lines injected into mice by decreasing tumor weights (Festuccia et al, 2014).…”

Organic extracts from Cleome droserifolia exhibit effective caspase-dependent anticancer activity

“…Cleome gynandra, has been shown to be effective when injected in Swiss albino mice using Ehlrich's ascites carcinoma cells [41]. Similarly, extracts from another species, Cleome arabica, has been shown to have cytotoxic effects against the mouse leukemia cell line P388 by activating apoptosis and inhibiting phosphorylation of AKT and ERK kinases induced by the epidermal growth factor signaling [42]. Some of these cytotoxic effects could be attributed to the presence of dammarane triterpenes in these extracts that have been shown to have cytotoxic effects in P388 cells in MTT assays [28].…”

Propriedades terapêuticas do gênero cleome, familia cleomaceae

“…Evidenciou-se que o extrato hidrometanólico promoveu a redução do número de células neoplásicas testadas e o efeito foi considerado dose-dependente, com DE50 de aproximadamente 175mg/ml. Nas doses 100mg/ml e 200mg/ml o extrato foi capaz de aumentar em 3 vezes a cascata apoptótica (TIGRINE et al, 2013). Devi et al (2003) em seus ensaios compararam a atividade antipirética do extrato metanólico da Cleome viscosa a do paracetamol (150mg/kg), seus resultados comprovaram a atividade antipirética do extrato em temperaturas normais e em estado de pirexia estimulado por leveduras em ratos albinos.…”