Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr. and Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) Dunal Extracts Decrease Doxorubicin Cytotoxicity on H9c2 Cardiomyoblasts

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological Relevance. Doxorubicin (Dox) is an anthracycline antibiotic widely used in cancer treatment. Despite its antitumor efficacy, its clinical application is significantly limited because of its cardiotoxicity originated, among other factors, from pro-oxidant damage to cardiac mitochondria. Phytochemicals represent a potentially attractive strategy to mitigate Dox cardiotoxicity due to their antioxidant properties, with plant extracts used in traditional medicine often being ignored in terms of potential therapeutic uses. Aim of the Study. The present study aimed at investigating the protective effects of two native Cameroonian plants, Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr. (A. lepidophyllus) and Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) Dunal (M. myristica), against Dox-induced cytotoxicity on cultured H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells. Materials and Methods. Bark extracts of these plants (1 and 25 µg/mL) were added 3 hours before coincubating H9c2 cardiomyoblasts with Dox (0.5 and 1 µM) for 24 hours more. We measured cell mass and metabolic viability, mitochondrial transmembrane potential, superoxide anion content, and activity-like of caspase-3 and caspase-9 following treatment with the extracts and/or Dox. Also, selenium and vitamin C contents were measured in the plant extracts. Results. The results confirmed that Dox treatment decreased cell mass, mitochondrial membrane potential and metabolic viability, increased mitochondrial superoxide anion, and stimulated caspase-3 and caspase-9-like activities. Pretreatment of the cells with the plant extracts significantly inhibited Dox cytotoxicity, with more significant results at the higher concentration. Measurements of selenium and vitamin C in the extracts revealed higher concentration of both when compared with other Cameroonian spices. Conclusion. Both extracts of A. lepidophyllus and M. myristica were effective against Dox-induced cytotoxicity, most likely due to their content in antioxidants.

Heracleum persicum Essential Oil Nanoemulsion: A Nanocarrier System for the Delivery of Promising Anticancer and Antioxidant Bioactive Agents

“…The overexpression of Caspase-3 may ultimately induce apoptosis responses. Essential oils present in plant extracts can remarkably induce Caspase-3-dependent apoptosis properties and examples of such plant extracts include, but are not limited to, Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr, Monodora myristica, Arachis hypogaea, Ricinus communis L. Garcinia epunctata and Ptycholobium contortum [34][35][36][37].…”

Effect of Roasting on the Proximate Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Functional Properties of Afrostyrax lepidophyllus (Country Onion) Seeds

“…Te fnding could be confrmed with the trend of the result recorded with the evaluation of the TPC presented in paragraph 3.2. Moukette et al [4] previously studied the TPC of A. lepidophyllus and discovered that they were mainly made up of favonoids which are powerful antioxidant compounds. Te best method which exhibited the highest AOA was found to be pot roasting for 15 min.…”

“…Te leaves are crushed, infused, and used as bath seat to fght against women hemorrhoids and as mouthwash to treat caries and toothache. Te authors in [4] reported cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of the essential oils from the A. lepidophyllus seeds. Te polyphenol content of the hydroethanolic bark extract of this plant is greater than 28 mg/g with about 7 mg/g being favonoids [4].…”

“…Te authors in [4] reported cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of the essential oils from the A. lepidophyllus seeds. Te polyphenol content of the hydroethanolic bark extract of this plant is greater than 28 mg/g with about 7 mg/g being favonoids [4]. In the Central African Republic and in many other African countries, Cameroon included, the seeds are equally one of the most used spices as these possessed a strong garlic-onion favor [5].…”