Cytotoxic effects of butanolic extract from Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian Ginseng) on cultured human breast cancer cell line MCF-7

17β-estradiol improves hepatic mitochondrial biogenesis and function through PGC1B

“…Cells were seeded in six well plates until 70% confluence and then the medium was replaced 24 h before treatment by phenol red-free MEM 5.6 mM glucose (Biological Industries) supplemented with 10% charcoal-stripped FBS (Biological Industries) and 1% penicillin-streptomycin (Biowest). Afterward, cells were treated with 10 nM E2 or the vehicle (ethanol) for 40 h. Preliminary experiments were carried out to determine the appropriate concentration of each compound, and cell death was assessed in 96 well plates using crystal violet nuclear staining assay (Nagamine et al 2009). Briefly, cells were stained with 0.5% (p/v) crystal violet in 30% (v/v) acetic acid for 10 min.…”

“…After 24 h the transfection mix was removed and cells were treated with E2 (10 nM) or ethanol for another 40 h and then RNA and protein were collected using TriPure Isolation Reagent (Roche Diagnostics) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Cell viability was measured in 96 well plates by crystal violet nuclear staining assay (Nagamine et al 2009).…”

Research Article In vivo antimutagenic activity of the medicinal plants Pfaffia glomerata (Brazilian ginseng) and Ginkgo biloba.

“…However, studies with Pfaffia paniculata, which is morphologically and chemically similar to Brazilian ginseng, have revealed that this plant possesses chemotherapeutic effects, reducing cell proliferation and increasing the rate of apoptosis in induced hepatocellular carcinoma in BALB/c mice, indicating a cytotoxic effect of the root (Silva et al, 2010). Nagamine et al (2009) also observed cytotoxic effects of butanolic extract from P. paniculata in human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cells and demonstrated the degradation of cytoplasmic components, the disappearance of mitochondria, rupture of the plasma membrane, and profound changes in the nuclear morphology. In this study, it is noteworthy that normal bone marrow cells were evaluated, which may explain the absence of cytotoxic effects of Brazilian ginseng extract, which is different from what was found in studies with tumor cells.…”

Anticancer and Antimicrobial Potential of Plant-Derived Natural Products

“…The water extract of Rheum officinale exhibited significant antiproliferative activity by inducing apoptosis in MCF-7 and A549 cell lines (Li et al, 2009). A potent antiproliferative activity was also reported for the hexane extract of Casearia sylvestris stem bark against different cancer cell lines (Mesquita et al, 2009) and the butanol extract of Pfuffia paniculata demonstrated high cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cell line (Nagamine et al, 2009). Additionally, the Physalis minima chloroform extract induced apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (Leong et al, 2009).…”