Hibiscus Flower and Olive Leaf Extracts Activate Apoptosis in SH-SY5Y Cells

Abstract

Compounds of natural origin may constitute an interesting tool for the treatment of neuroblastoma, the most prevalent extracranial solid tumor in children. PRES is a commercially available food supplement, composed of a 13:2 (w/w) extracts mix of Olea europaea L. leaves (OE) and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. flowers (HS). Its potential towards neuroblastoma is still unexplored and was thus investigated in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. PRES decreased the viability of cells in a concentration-dependent fashion (24 h IC50 247.2 ± 31.8 µg/mL). Cytotoxicity was accompanied by an increase in early and late apoptotic cells (AV-PI assay) and sub G0/G1 cells (cell cycle analysis), ROS formation, reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, and caspases activities. The ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine reverted the cytotoxic effects of PRES, suggesting a key role played by ROS in PRES-mediated SH-SY5Y cell death. Finally, the effects of OE and HS extracts were singularly tested and compared to those of the corresponding mixture. OE- or HS-mediated cytotoxicity was always significantly lower than that caused by PRES, suggesting a synergic effect. In conclusion, the present findings highlight the potential of PRES for the treatment of neuroblastoma and offers the basis for a further characterization of the mechanisms underlying its effects.

An aqueous olive leaf extract (OLE) ameliorates parameters of oxidative stress associated with lipid accumulation and induces lipophagy in human hepatic cells

“…Our data agree with those obtained by in vivo and in vitro experiments reporting a protective role of olive oil and its phenolic components on mitochondrial membrane potential and functions. 59–62 Moreover, the decrease in lipid accumulation after OLE treatments can be responsible for the ameliorative effect on insulin signaling we measured. This latter result is in keeping with previous observations suggesting that oleuropein decreases insulin resistance and prevents the progression of NASH to fibrosis.…”

Biological Evaluation and In Vitro Characterization of ADME Profile of In-House Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines as Dual Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Active against Glioblastoma Multiforme

“…IC 50 and CC 50 values were calculated by fitting data to a nonlinear regression analysis (sigmoidal log concentration vs. normalized response curve; GraphPad Prism 5.04 software, GraphPad Software Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) using at least six points in a concentration range from 0% to 100% of the studied effects (total widest range 0.01–1000 µM). To support MTT data, cytotoxicity assays was always paralleled by a careful observation of cells under a phase-contrast light microscope, as described in USP 28 (United States Pharmacopeia edition 2005) as an alternative method [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. This analysis was performed by an expert operator blind to the treatment, and exemplificative photos representing the effects of compound 5 on LN229 and DBTRG cells are reported in Figures S2 and S3 (Supplementary Materials) .…”

Olea europea L. Leaves and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Petals Extracts: Herbal Mix from Cardiovascular Network Target to Gut Motility Dysfunction Application

“…The Hibiscus sabdariffa L. flowers extract (HSE) provided by Nutraceutica s.r.l (Monterenzio, Bologna, Italy) was prepared as previously reported [ 8 ]. More information on the extracts’ preparation and their chemical characterization is available [ 20 ]. The herbal mix ( HM ) was formed by 86.67% of OEE and 13.33% of HSE (13:2 ratio).…”