In Vitro Study of the Anticancer Effects of Biotechnological Extracts of the Endangered Plant Species Satureja Khuzistanica

Abstract

Many medicinal plant species are currently threatened in their natural habitats because of the growing demand for phytochemicals worldwide. A sustainable alternative for the production of bioactive plant compounds are plant biofactories based on cell cultures and organs. In addition, plant extracts from biofactories have significant advantages over those obtained from plants, since they are free of contamination by microorganisms, herbicides and pesticides, and they provide more stable levels of active ingredients. In this context, we report the establishment of Satureja khuzistanica cell cultures able to produce high amounts of rosmarinic acid (RA). The production of this phytopharmaceutical was increased when the cultures were elicited with coronatine and scaled up to a benchtop bioreactor. S. khuzistanica extracts enriched in RA were found to reduce the viability of cancer cell lines, increasing the sub-G0/G1 cell population and the activity of caspase-8 in MCF-7 cells, which suggest that S. khuzistanica extracts can induce apoptosis of MCF-7 cells through activation of the extrinsic pathway. In addition, our findings indicate that other compounds in S. khuzistanica extracts may act synergistically to potentiate the anticancer activity of RA.

Powerful Plant Antioxidants: A New Biosustainable Approach to the Production of Rosmarinic Acid

“…An apoptotic effect of RA has been described by Hur et al [ 92 ] and strong evidence presented for its anticancer activity, notably a metastasis inhibitory capacity, after long-term consumption of large amounts in the diet [ 93 ]. Recently, it has been demonstrated that RA-enriched methanolic extracts obtained from S. khuzistanica cell suspensions have an apoptotic effect on MCF-7 cells through activation of the extrinsic pathway by increasing caspase 8 activity [ 94 ].…”

“…As COR significantly reduced the DW, the productivity of RA initially also decreased significantly after the elicitation. However, at day 21 (168 h after elicitation), the RA production levels of COR-treated cells started to overtake those of the control cells, reaching more than 2600 mg·L −1 after 240 h, which was significantly higher than the control (untreated cells) [ 94 ].…”

Phytoconstituents and Bioactivity of Plants of the Genus Spiraea L. (Rosaceae): A Review

“…Currently, methods for the culturing of plant cells, tissues, and organs are among the tools for basic research into the processes of plant growth and development and have practical importance [ 101 ]. In vitro culture is a popular plant propagation technology for the production of valuable secondary metabolites [ 102 , 103 ]. Despite the strong interest in Spiraea members as ornamental plants and sources of secondary metabolites, information on the microclonal propagation of spireas is limited.…”

An In Vitro Evaluation of the Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Medical Plants from the Lamiaceae Family as Effective Sources of Active Compounds against Human Cancer Cell Lines

“…Ocimum basilicum leaf extract induced cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cells [ 148 ], and Salvia miltiorrhiza root extract induced a G2/M phase arrest in human lung adenocarcinoma (Glc-82) cells [ 149 ], as did Melissa officinalis leaf extract in HT-29 and T84 cells and Prunella vulgaris root extract in human breast carcinoma MCF-5 cells [ 150 ]. Satureja khuzistanica extract enriched with rosmarinic acid [ 151 ] was found to increase the size of the apoptotic sub-G0/G1 population in MCF-7 cells.…”

“…Caspase-8 induction was found to induce apoptosis in MCF-7 and HCT-116 cells following Micromeria fruticose aerial part extract administration [144], as well as treatment with Vitex rotundifolia leaf extract in T-47D cells [159], Stachys pilifera leaf extract in the HT-29 cell line [154], and for Teucrium chamaedrys aerial flowering part extract in SW480 cells [170]. In addition, it was speculated that Satureja khuzistanica extract enriched in rosmarinic acid can induce apoptosis through activation of the extrinsic pathway in MCF-7 cells [151]. Then, the activation of caspase-8 and caspase-10 is followed by the activation effector caspases 3/7, enzymatic cleavage of numerous downstream targets, and cell death [176,177].…”