Antioxidant RichMorus albaleaf Extract Induces Apoptosis in Human Colon and Breast Cancer Cells by the Downregulation of Nitric Oxide Produced by Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase

Abstract

Morus species had been used widely in the traditional medicines for various diseases. In this study we report the in vitro antiproliferative activity of the methanol extract of Morus alba. The extract is capable of inducing cytotoxicity in human colon cancer (HCT-15) cells (IC(50) = 13.8 μg/ml) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells (IC(50) = 9.2 μg/ml), resulted in significant morphological changes of the cells, fragmentation of DNA, and caspase-3 activation- characteristics of apoptosis. It downregulated the amount of nitric oxide (NO) produced as a result of inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) activation. The HPLC analysis of the extract showed epicatechin (20%), myricetin (10%), quercetin hydrate (12%), luteolin (12%), and kaempferol (6%) as the major active components and ascorbic acid, gallic acid, pelargonidine, and p-coumaric acid as the minor components. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing the downregulation of iNOS and induction of apoptosis by M. alba extract.

Impact of lower concentrations of phytoestrogens on the effects of estradiol in breast cancer cells

“…Caspase-3 was widely used to evaluate apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cells and has been recognized as having important implications in studying phytoestrogen-mediated anti-tumor activities (24)(25)(26). Therefore, to verify whether in the presence of E 2 , these phytoestrogens can be recognized as inhibitors of apoptosis, we further investigated the mitochondrial/caspase pathway.…”

Simultaneous quantitation of nucleosides, nucleobases, amino acids, and alkaloids in mulberry leaf by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry

“…Its dried leaves, called mulberry leaf in China, have been commonly used as a traditional Chinese medicine for its efficacies of hypoglycemic [1], hypolipidemic [2], antihypertensive [3], anti-atherosclerotic [4], anti-inflammatory [5], antioxidant [1,6,7], and antitumor [8]. Phytochemical studies have revealed that mulberry leaf contains various constituents, including flavonoids [9,10], alkaloids [11], polysaccharides [12], amino acids [13], nucleosides, microelements, and so on.…”

Morus rubra Extract Induces G1 Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Lung and Prostate Cancer Cells

“…10 Our results show that acidified M. rubra extract exhibited apoptotic features on both A549 and PC-3 cells by reducing mitochondrial membrane potential. Studies have suggested that the anticancer characteristics of phenolic compounds derive from pro-oxidant, rather than antioxidant activities.…”

“…21 M. rubra is one of the most important species of the genus Morus, with fruits having substantial levels of phenolics, anthocyanins, carotenoids and ascorbic acid. 3 Many studies have investigated the cytotoxic effects of different berry species, [8][9][10] however to the authors' best knowledge there is no study reporting cytotoxic effect of M. rubra in the literature. It is adviced that in vitro experiments are helpful and advisor for determining first biological effect of a natural or syntetic product.…”

“…9 Recently, Deepa et al demonstrated that M. alba extract induces apoptosis in HCT-15 and MCF-7 cells and downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase is suggested as a possible apoptotic mechanism. 10 However, to the authors' best knowledge there is no study reporting cytotoxic effect of M. rubra in the literature. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to determine chemical composition and antioxidant properties of acidified dimethyl sulfoxide extract of M. rubra (AMRE) and farther to search the probable cytotoxic effect in human prostate and lung adenocarcinoma cells coupled with mechanism of action for the first time.…”