Terminalia bentzoë, a Mascarene Endemic Plant, Inhibits Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Growth In Vitro via G0/G1 Phase Cell Cycle Arrest

Abstract

Tropical forests constitute a prolific sanctuary of unique floral diversity and potential medicinal sources, however, many of them remain unexplored. The scarcity of rigorous scientific data on the surviving Mascarene endemic taxa renders bioprospecting of this untapped resource of utmost importance. Thus, in view of valorizing the native resource, this study has as its objective to investigate the bioactivities of endemic leaf extracts. Herein, seven Mascarene endemic plants leaves were extracted and evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant properties and antiproliferative effects on a panel of cancer cell lines, using methyl thiazolyl diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and clonogenic cell survival assays. Flow cytometry and comet assay were used to investigate the cell cycle and DNA damaging effects, respectively. Bioassay guided-fractionation coupled with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (MS), gas chromatography-MS, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis were used to identify the bioactive compounds. Among the seven plants tested, Terminaliabentzoë was comparatively the most potent antioxidant extract, with significantly (p < 0.05) higher cytotoxic activities. T. bentzoë extract further selectively suppressed the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and significantly halted the cell cycle progression in the G0/G1 phase, decreased the cells’ replicative potential and induced significant DNA damage. In total, 10 phenolic compounds, including punicalagin and ellagic acid, were identified and likely contributed to the extract’s potent antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. These results established a promising basis for further in-depth investigations into the potential use of T. bentzoë as a supportive therapy in cancer management.

Antiproliferative activity of Syzygium coriaceum, an endemic plant of Mauritius, with its UPLC-MS metabolite fingerprint: A mechanistic study

“…Following trial experiments using different dilutions of extract from 10 μg/mL to 40 μg/mL at 24 hours and 48 hours, the cells were exposed to 10 μg/mL extract for 24 hours. The negative control consisted of untreated HepG2 cells while the positive control cells were treated with 200 μM H 2 O 2 for 30 minutes as previously reported [21]. Cells were washed with PBS, harvested using 1 X trypsin-EDTA and re-suspended in 100 μL of PBS.…”

Antidiabetic, anticholinergic and antioxidant activities of aerial parts of shaggy bindweed (Convulvulus betonicifolia Miller subsp.) – profiling of phenolic compounds by LC-HRMS

“…Moreover, worldwide 28.000 plant taxa have been reported to have medicinal properties. It has been recorded that more than 3000 species have ethnomedical applications against many diseases including cancer [2]. According to recent studies, the use of endemic and medicinal plants in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries is recently increasing.…”

LC-HRMS Profiling and Antidiabetic, Anticholinergic, and Antioxidant Activities of Aerial Parts of Kınkor (Ferulago stellata)

“…Moreover, 28,000 known plant taxa have been reported worldwide to have medicinal values. It has been reported that more than 3000 species have ethnomedical usage and applications against many diseases including cancer and diabetes mellitus [ 1 ]. However, herbal and medicinal plants play crucial role in the development of modern medicine and healthcare because they cause milder adverse health effects than conventional medicines and drugs [ 2 ].…”