Plant‐derived compounds and/or extracts have proven to be beneficial for the treatment of a broad spectrum of cancers with minimal side effects. In this study, we investigated whether a crude acetone extract of Momordica balsamina (MBE) can interfere with the metastatic ability of HT‐29 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. The phytochemical composition of MBE was determined by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography and cytotoxic effects by the MTT and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining assays. The effect of MBE on the formation of reactive oxygen species was assessed using the DCFH2‐DA assay. Wound healing assay, transwell cell invasion assay, cell adhesion assay, and the extracellular matrix‐cell adhesion array were used to assess the antimetastatic effects of MBE. The effect of MBE on the expression of TNF‐α, NF‐κB, TIMP‐3, MMP‐2, and MMP‐9 was assessed by western blot analysis. Our results showed that MBE consists of a mixture of compounds without a known anticancer activity in CRC and exhibits cytotoxicity against HT‐29 cells. MBE also suppressed reactive oxygen species formation, cell invasion, cell migration, and cell adhesion. The reduction of cell invasion was associated with the downregulation of TNF‐α, NF‐κB, MMP2, and MMP9 and upregulation of TIMP‐3 proteins. We concluded that MBE inhibits the metastatic ability of HT‐29 CRC cells in vitro.
In this study, the potential of an n-butanol fraction from Ricinus communis to prevent metastasis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells was investigated. The effect of the fraction on BUD-8 and MCF-7 cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. Apoptotic cell death was analyzed by Hoechst staining assay. The antimetastatic effect of the fraction on MCF-7 cell was evaluated using the wound healing, adhesion and Boyden chamber invasion assays. Gelatin-zymography was used to assess the effect of the fraction on MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. The expression profile of proteins implicated in metastasis and angiogenesis was determined using the human angiogenesis antibody array kit, following treatment with the fraction. BUD-8 cell viability was significantly reduced at concentrations between 300 and 500 µg/ml of the extract. In contrast, a significant reduction in cell viability was seen in MCF-7 cells treated with 400 to 500 µg/ml of the fraction. At sub-lethal concentrations (100 and 200 µg/ml) of the fraction, no nuclei morphological changes associated with apoptotic cell death were observed in MCF-7 cells. In addition, the fraction showed to have an inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cell migration, adhesion, invasiveness, and MMP-2 activity. Moreover, the fraction was seen to modulate the expression of several proteins, such as MMP-9, uPA, VEGF, and TGF-β1, playing a role in the metastasis process. This study demonstrates that the n-butanol fraction of R. communis can inhibit major steps of the metastatic cascade and modulate metastasis regulatory proteins. Thus, the fraction can be considered a potential source of antimetastatic agents that could be useful in the treatment of malignant cancers.
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