Solvent fractions of selected Ethiopian medicinal plants used in traditional breast cancer treatment inhibit cancer stem cells in a breast cancer cell line

Abstract

Background The incidence and mortality of breast cancer in women is increasing worldwide. Breast cancer contains a subpopulation of cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). The CSCs are believed to be responsible for chemotherapeutic resistance and are also involved in tumor initiation, progression, evolution, and metastasis to distant sites. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-CSC potential of selected Ethiopian medicinal plants traditionally used for breast cancer treatment. Methods The solvent fractions of three medicinal plants (the ethyl acetate fraction of Vernonia leopoldi, the aqueous fraction of Sideroxylon oxyacanthum, and the chloroform fraction of Clematis simensis) resulting from the methanolic crude extracts were selected based on their previously demonstrated cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cell lines. The effect of these solvent fractions on the status of the cancer stem cell subpopulation of the JIMT-1 cell line was assessed by flow cytometric evaluation of the proportion of aldehyde dehydrogenase positive cells and by measuring colony forming efficiency in a serum-free soft agar assay after treatment. Effects on cell migration using a wound healing assay and on tumor necrosis factor-α-induced translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B to the cell nucleus were also investigated. Results The solvent fractions showed a dose-dependent reduction in the aldehyde dehydrogenase positive subpopulation of JIMT-1 cells. The chloroform fraction of C. simensis (80 μg/mL) completely blocked colony formation of JIMT-1 cells. The wound healing assay showed that all fractions significantly reduced cell migration. The ethyl acetate fraction of V. leopoldi (0.87 μg/mL) significantly inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α-induced nuclear factor-kappa B translocation to the nucleus. Conclusion The solvent fractions of the medicinal plants showed desirable activities against breast cancer stem cells in the JIMT-1 cell line, which warrants further studies.

Traditional and Phytochemical Bases of Herbs, Shrubs, Climbers, and Trees from Ethiopia for Their Anticancer Response

“…In another study, chloroform extract of aerial part of Clematis simensis was tested for anticancer activity using MTT assay against three breast cancer cell lines (JIMT-1, MCF-7, and MCF-10A). The IC 50 ( μ g/ml) values obtained after treating two breast cancer cell lines (JIMT-1 and MCF-7) and MCF-10A (one normal-like breast epithelial cell line) were as 80 ± 19, 190 ± 70, and 97 ± 9, respectively [ 74 ]. Asparagus africanus , named “Yeset-kest” in the local Ethiopian language, also treats cancer.…”

“…Flavonoids extracted from Cassia Angustifolia , such as scutellarein, quercimeritrin, and rutin demonstrated considerable anticancer activity against MCF-7, Hep2, and HeLa cell lines, with lower cytotoxicity towards the HCEC cell line [ 103 ]. The crude extracts/fractions of Clerodendrum myricoides , Vernonia leopoldi , Dovyalis abyssinica , Sideroxylon oxyacanthum , Clematis longicauda , Zanthoxylum chalybeum , and Clematis simensis were tested for anticancer activities and found cytotoxic effects against various breast cancer-derived cell lines [ 74 ].…”

“…Two breast cancer cell lines JIMT-1 and MCF-7 showed IC 50 values of 80 μ g/mL and 190 μ g/mL, respectively. One of the normal-like breast epithelial cell lines (MCF-10A) has 97 μ g/mL [ 74 ]. The alkaloids, which are also present in the flower of Solanecio angulatus , showed in vitro cytotoxicity properties with an IC 50 value of 133.72 μ g/mL in the tested cell line (HL-60) [ 30 ].…”

Solving the Puzzle of Global Health Inequity: Completing the Picture Piece by Piece by Piece

“…Surgical healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa is another area where substantial and sustained investments are urgently needed to correct gross inequities (Chu et al, 2020 ). Additional resourcing also is required to continue developing traditional and plant-based treatments that show promising effects in areas such as epilepsy (Kediso et al, 2020 ), breast cancer (Tuasha et al, 2020 ), and the use of skin-lightening creams (Owolabi et al, 2020a , 2020b ). Increased resourcing would also allow for the continued development of expanded therapeutic options in the area of the Arts for mental health problems (Karangwa et al, 2020 ) as well as improving the availability and accessibility of self-care programs to assist in building a resilient mental health workforce particularly in rural, remote, and very remote locations (Carey & Gullifer, 2020b ).…”

“…Characteristics of individuals: Self-efficacy What interventions and technologies are key to eradicating global health inequities? •Interventions and devices must fit local contexts •Appropriate funding is essential •Barriers to service provision must be understood •Public messaging with ongoing evaluative research can maximise behaviour change Hadgu et al ( 2020 ), Kelemu et al ( 2020a , 2020b ), Molla et al ( 2020 ), Hobabagabo et al ( 2020 ), Orikiriza et al ( 2020 ), Chandler et al ( 2020 ), Carey and Gullifer ( 2020a ), *Leckning et al ( 2020 ), Carey et al ( 2020a , 2020b ), Iverson et al 2020 ), HIrschhorn et al ( 2020 ), Wotton and Binagwaho ( 2020 ), Isano et al ( 2020 ), Louis et al ( 2020 ), Lazarus et al ( 2020b ), Ratzan et al ( 2020 ), *Nduwayezu et al ( 2020 ), Harrington et al ( 2020 ), Forrester et al ( 2020 ), Atun et al ( 2020 ), Semret et al ( 2020 ), *Ndayambaje et al ( 2020 ), Chu et al ( 2020 ), Kediso et al ( 2020 ), Tuasha et al ( 2020 ), Owolabi et al ( 2020a , 2020b ), Karangwa et al ( 2020 ), Carey and Gullifer ( 2020b ), Landrigan et al ( 2020 ), Binagwaho et al ( 2020 ) I. Intervention characteristics: Adaptability; complexity; cost II.…”