Cytotoxic effect of Semialarium mexicanum (Miers) Mennega root bark extracts and fractions against breast cancer cells

Abstract

The root bark of Semialarium mexicanum (Miers) Mennega (cancerina) is traditionally used in Mexico to treat cancer. However, there are no studies supporting its use. We evaluated whether S. mexicanum root bark induces cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells to determine if it has potential applications in the treatment of this disease. Extracts of S. mexicanum root bark in petroleum ether, ethanol, and water were obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction. MTT and WST-1 assays were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the extracts toward breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and MCF7), non-tumorigenic breast-derived cells (MCF 10A), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). For the extract with greatest cytotoxicity, induction of apoptosis and oxidative stress were determined using flow cytometry. The extract was fractionated, and the cytotoxicity of its fractions was evaluated with the four cell types. The fractions were also analyzed by HPLC. Only the petroleum ether extract was cytotoxic for all cell types (MDA-MB-231 [ MCF 10A/ MCF7 [ PBMCs). Cell death occurred by apoptosis, which could be associated with the induction of oxidative stress. Two fractions that were highly cytotoxic for breast cancer cells were obtained from this extract (IC 50-B 4.15 lg/mL for the most active fraction at 72 h). The MCF 10A cells were less affected, while PBMCs were not affected after 72 h of treatment. Pristimerin was identified in both fractions and may be partially responsible for the cytotoxic effect. These results suggest that S. mexicanum root bark has a potential application in breast cancer treatment.

RETRACTED: Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Benincasa hispida and evaluation of its anticancer activity against oral cancer cell line

“…KB and Vero cell lines were used to examine the sample's cytotoxic effect using the MTT (3-(4,5dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay) [9]. Under an inverted microscope (20X magni cation), the morphological alterations of untreated (control) and Bh-AuNPs sample-treated cells (20,40,60,80, and 100 µg/ml) were observed and photographed after 24 hours.…”

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of green synthesis silver nanoparticles targeting skin and soft tissue infectious agents

“…The cytotoxicity of TAE, AgNO 3 , and AgNPs was determined against peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as previously described 24 , with modifications ( Supplementary file ). Untreated cells were considered as negative control and paclitaxel 2.5 µg/mL (Sigma Aldrich, USA) as positive control.…”

In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity of Methanol Extracts of Selected Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used in Mexico against Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…R. chalepensis is one of the most widely used plants in Mexico and worldwide, whose phytochemical compounds have shown antiparasitic, antifungal, antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activities [ 30 ]. In addition, the root bark of S. mexicanum was reported to possess a cytotoxic effect against the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, with promising results [ 31 ]. Studies on the chemical components of Smilax species such as S. aspera have revealed the presence of steroidal saponins, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and stilbenoids, with antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities against different cell lines [ 32 ].…”