Activity Markers of the Anti-Breast Carcinoma Cell Growth Fractions of Vernonia amygdalina Extracts

Abstract

Vernonia amygdalina (VA) is an edible plant of the Asteraceae family used in many herbal formulations prescribed by herbalists for many diseases. We have previously reported that aqueous VA extracts inhibit the growth of estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancerous cells in vitro. Activity markers of the VA extracts have not been previously identified or characterized. Hence, the objective of this study was to identify activity markers of the VA extracts associated with cell growth inhibition. Extraction of VA with multiple solvents of various polarity indexes yielded three fractions (A1-2, B-3) that significantly inhibited cell growth (p <0.05) at 0.1 mg/ml concentration. At a higher concentration of 1 mg/ml, six fractions of hexane, chloroform, butanol, and ethyl acetate (A1-3, B2-4) inhibited DNA synthesis by 76, 98, 94, 98, 98, and 96% respectively. These fractions were UV-detected from 250–730 nm; and all showed three distinct peaks around 410, 431, and 664 nm. Furthermore, HPLC analysis of the fractions revealed similar retention times of 2.213, 2.167, and 2.151 min respectively. Bioactivity assays showed that HPLC retention of approximately 2 min is required for cell growth-inhibitory activity of VA fractions. Interestingly, all active fractions exhibited HPLC peaks at approximately 2 min. Therefore, the UV and HPLC peaks may be used as predictive tools to determine VA extracts activities.

Anti-Carcinoma, Anti-Obesity, Antidiabetic and Immune Defence Effects of <I>Vernonia amygdalina</I> Leaf Extract and Leaf Powder, in Two Human Cancer Patients

“…He also found that multiple solvent extracts of V. amygdalina leaf of various polarity indexes, yielded three fractions each of which significantly (p<0.05), inhibited breast cancer cell growth at a concentration of 0.1 mg −1 mL. In his studies six fractions of the Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract of different solvents (chloroform, hexane, butanol and ethyl acetate),inhibited DNA synthesis by 76, 98, 94, 98, 98 and 96% respectively, at a concentration of 1 mg −1 mL (Oyugi et al, 2009). These fractions had similar retention times of 2.213, 2.17 and 2.151 min respectively and showed 3 distinct UV -detected peaks around 410,431 and 664nm (Oyugi et al, 2009).…”

“…In his studies six fractions of the Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract of different solvents (chloroform, hexane, butanol and ethyl acetate),inhibited DNA synthesis by 76, 98, 94, 98, 98 and 96% respectively, at a concentration of 1 mg −1 mL (Oyugi et al, 2009). These fractions had similar retention times of 2.213, 2.17 and 2.151 min respectively and showed 3 distinct UV -detected peaks around 410,431 and 664nm (Oyugi et al, 2009). The retention time of approximately 2 min obtained in the breast cancer inhibition study (Oyugi et al, 2009) coincides with the 2 sec, 2 min pharmacological action time observed for Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract in its blood sugar-lowering and excess fat elimination effects obtained in my two patients.…”

“…A Nigerian born professor of biology, a specialist in Vernonia amygdalina; at Jackson State University, Mississippi; found that some compounds from V. amygdalina extracts, were able to inhibit the growth of breast cancer and were also effective in other tumor cells (Oyugi et al, 2009). He also found that multiple solvent extracts of V. amygdalina leaf of various polarity indexes, yielded three fractions each of which significantly (p<0.05), inhibited breast cancer cell growth at a concentration of 0.1 mg −1 mL.…”

“…The Igbos of south eastern Nigeria cherish and long for their bitter leaf soup just as the American misses his chocolate cake or as the Greek misses his baklava and as the Soviet Georgian misses his fresh home-made yogurt. It is the bitterness in the biter leaf that puts it in a separate class among all green leafy vegetables used in food .This bitterness and the leaf's rich content of sesquiterpene lactones; alkaloids; glycosides; essential proteins;dietary mineral elements et cetra, confer to bitter leaf the antiplasmodial (Varshochi et al, 2010), anti-thrombic (Bandyopadhyay et al, 2010), wound healing (Indexmedicus Afro Who, 2009) and anti-cancer (Oyugi et al, 2009;Pradupsri et al, 2009;Prakash et al, 2011;Akah and Okafor, 2006;Constance Ikoku, 2009), properties demonstrated in various studies.…”

Effects of the topical application of an ethyl acetate fraction from Vernonia scorpioides on excisional wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus in rats

“…Different biological effects of the sesquiterpene lactones species from Vernonia are described. The decoction of V. amygdalina showed to be a safe and moderately clinically effective treatment for malaria in adult semi-immune patients with no severe adverse events (Challand & Willcox, 2009); the seeds from V. anthelmintica possess antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic properties without evident toxic effects (Fatima et al, 2010); V. amygdalina extracts exhibit anti tumor activity (Oyugi et al, 2009); methanol extract from V. cinerea demonstrates anti-inflammatory properties (Pratheeshkumar & Kuttan, 2009); and V. amygdalina ethanol and aqueous extracts inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escheriachia coli (Gram-negative) and showed activity against Candida albicans (Okigbo & Mmeka, 2008).…”