Cytotoxic effect of Ginkgo biloba kernel extract on HCT116 and A2058 cancer cell lines

Abstract

While the pharmacology of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract has been studied extensively, little is known about the pharmacological potential of Ginkgo biloba seeds, although they contain similar active ingredients that are responsible for the therapeutic effects of the leaf extract. In this study we used 70%-methanol Ginkgo biloba kernel extract, quantified its bioactive constituents and tested their cytotoxic effect on two cancer cell lines, A2058 and HCT116, and the non-tumor cell line McCoy-Plovdiv. We studied the biological effect of the extract by real-time analysis in the xCELLigence system, WST-1 assay and LIVE/DEAD viability assay. We show that the extract significantly perturbed the viability of cancer cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In contrast, non-cancerous McCoy-Plovdiv cells sustained their proliferation potential even at high concentrations of the extract. Therefore, we propose that the active constituents of the Ginkgo biloba endosperm extract may interact additively or synergistically to protect against cancer.

Ginkgo Biflavones Cause p53 Wild-Type Dependent Cell Death in a Transcription-Independent Manner of p53

“…Ginkgo biloba L., an ancient dioecious gymnosperm, is now cultivated worldwide for landscaping and medical purposes. Although previous studies have reported that ginkgo biflavones have antitumor activities via the activation of apoptosis or cell cycle arrest, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully characterized . So, we evaluated the effects of three biflavones: bilobetin, isoginkgetin, and ginkgetin (Figure B) on p53 protein expression level in HCT-116 cells (wild-type p53), which are a highly invasive colon cancer cell line in an undifferentiated state.…”

“…Although previous studies have reported that ginkgo biflavones have antitumor activities via the activation of apoptosis or cell cycle arrest, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully characterized. 19 So, we evaluated the effects of three biflavones: bilobetin, isoginkgetin, and ginkgetin (Figure 1B) on p53 protein expression level in HCT-116 cells (wild-type p53), which are a highly invasive colon cancer cell line in an undifferentiated state. HCT-116 cells have been widely used in the study of biological characteristics of malignant tumor cells, the mechanism of anticancer drugs, and the screening of anticancer drugs.…”

The Potential of Ginkgo biloba as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds—A Review of the Recent Literature and Patents

“…In total, the effect of the extract and seven selected substances found in ginkgo was analyzed and tested on at least 22 cancer cell lines; however, usually, the effect of the selected substance on only 2–3 tumor cell lines was analyzed. Nevertheless, the discussed studies demonstrated cytotoxicity or inhibition of selected development phases of neoplastic cells that inhibit their proliferation, both when using extracts obtained from leaves [ 42 , 150 , 151 , 152 , 153 , 154 , 155 , 156 , 157 ], as well as selected components isolated from them: ginkgolide B [ 158 , 159 , 160 ] and polysaccharides isolated from leaves [ 13 ], bilobol isolated from the fruit [ 161 ] and chemical components isolated from fresh male flowers, incl. amentoflavone and its derivatives [ 134 , 160 ], bilobetin, isoginkgetin and sciadopitysin [ 160 ].…”

Ginkgo biloba: A Potential Anti-Cancer Agent

“…However, the role of total G. biloba kernel extract on anticancer was reported recently. A study firstly reported that G. biloba kernel extracts exhibited cytotoxic effects in colon cancer and melanoma, characterized by inhibiting cancer cells proliferation and vitality [54]. Melanoma cells are more sensitive to kernel extracts.…”