Cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of extract of Amaranthus spinosus L. in Allium cepa and human erythrocytes

Abstract

The present study examined the apoptosis inducing effects of Amaranthus spinosus L. aqueous extract in Allium cepa root meristematic cells and human erythrocytes. Cytogenetic assay revealed many apoptosis inducing cytogenetic aberrations viz., cytoplasmic breakage, cytoplasmic disintegration, cytoplasmic shrinkage, receding of cytoplasm, cytoplasmic vacuolation, enucleated cell, ghost cell, nuclear vacuolation, nuclear fragmentation and nuclear disintegration. A remarkable modification of red blood cell surface morphology was observed in the result of RBC assay. The treated RBCs show membrane blebbing and shrinkage, features typical for apoptosis in nucleated cells. Significant induction of cell death was observed in treated Allium root tip cells after Evans blue staining, disclosing the membrane damage potential of the plant extract. TTC assay results in reduced mitochondrial/ metabolic activity in Allium root tip cells after treatment, designating the adverse effect of plant extract on mitochondrial respiratory chain. These results confirm the apoptosis inducing potential of A. spinosus extract. Confirming the present results by further in vitro studies, it can be effectively targeted against cell proliferation during cancer treatment by inducing apoptosis. Thus from the present investigation it can be concluded that the aqueous extract of A. spinosus exhibited apoptosis induction and cytotoxic activities.

Toxicological study of aqueous-methanol solvent fraction of methanol extract of Dacryodes edulis leaves

“…The plausible mechanism of action of this, could be via inhibition of the erythropoetic process in the bone marrows and cellular destruction of red blood cells (which by its very nature is quite susceptible to lytic action) by phytochemicals such as flavonoids saponins and tannins – the major bioactive classes of compounds in the leaves of Dacryodes edulis [ 19 ]. Furthermore, a similar observation was made by Prajitha and Thoppil [ 51 ] in their study. They demonstrated that extracts of Amaranthus spinosus L. showed cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of in Allium cepa and human erythrocytes models.…”

Evaluation of the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of waters of the Paraíba do Sul River Basin - RJ through the Allium cepa test system

“…The presence of cytoplasmic shrinkage has been reported by other authors investigating meristematic cells of A. cepa roots submitted to treatment with plant extracts. (Bhagyanatham and Thoppil, 2016;Prajitha and Thoppil, 2017). In these works, the authors reported the presence of shrinkage as one of the cytoplasmic changes associated with apoptosis.…”

Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Apoptotic Potential of Ophiorrhiza Pectinata Arn. – A Potent Anticancer Agent

“…Apoptosis is a biological response of the cells with DNA damaged that forms an excellent marker to screen compounds for developing potent anticancer agents [30]. The main aim of using anticancer agents is the induction of apoptosis or cell death-related signals that disturb cancer cell proliferation [4]. Cell death that marks cytotoxicity could be revealed by Evan's blue staining method [31].…”

“…Although thousands of plants are well known for their ethnomedicinal properties, only 1-10% of these are scientifically studied for their potential medicinal use [3]. As the medicinal properties of all plants rely on their bioactive chemical constituents, large numbers of plants are constantly screened for the manufacture of new drugs with fewer side effects [4].…”