Cymbopogon citratus and Camellia sinensis extracts selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells and reduce growth of lymphoma xenografts in vivo

Abstract

Cancer cells are reported to have elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and are highly dependent on cellular defense mechanisms against oxidative stress. Numerous nutraceuticals and natural polyphenolic compounds have a wide range of abilities to alter cellular redox states with potential implications in various diseases. Furthermore, therapeutic options for cancers are mostly nonselective treatments including genotoxic or tubulin-targeting compounds. Some of the natural extracts, containing multiple bioactive compounds, could target multiple pathways in cancer cells to selectively induce cell death. Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) and Camellia sinensis (white tea) extracts have been shown to have medicinal properties, however, their activity against lymphoma and leukemia, as well as mechanistic details, have not been fully characterized. Herein, we report potent anti-cancer properties in dose and time-dependent manners of ethanolic lemongrass and hot water white tea extracts in lymphoma and leukemia models. Both extracts were able to effectively induce apoptosis selectively in these human cancer cell types. Interestingly, ethanolic lemongrass extract induces apoptosis primarily by the extrinsic pathway and was found to be dependent on the generation of ROS. Conversely, apoptotic induction by hot water white tea extract was independent of ROS. Furthermore, both of these extracts caused mitochondrial depolarization and decreased rates of oxygen consumption in lymphoma and leukemia cells, leading to cell death. Most importantly, both these extracts were effective in reducing tumor growth in human lymphoma xenograft models when administered orally. Thus, these natural extracts could have potential for being nontoxic alternatives for the treatment of cancer.

Antioxidant capacity of Nitraria retusa leaf extracts against mitomycin C-induced genetic toxicity in male mice

“…Several reports have indicated that isolated polyphenolic components from plant materials have antitumor and anti-genotoxic properties (Philion et al, 2017;Surh & Ferguson, 2003). They showed that the polyphenolic components scavenge free radicals from the cells and consequently protect the cellular systems from oxidative damage inducing DNA fragmentation and tumor induction.…”

“…They showed that the polyphenolic components scavenge free radicals from the cells and consequently protect the cellular systems from oxidative damage inducing DNA fragmentation and tumor induction. Additionally, extracted natural products are containing numerous bioactive components which probably are targeting many of pathways associated with cancer to induce apoptosis and consequently death of the tumor cells (Philion et al, 2017). It has been found that Nitraria retusa extracts have been recorded for anti-mutagenic and anti-oxidant activities as well as enhancing apoptosis which attributed to its contents of polyphenolic components (Boubaker et al, 2012a;Skandrani, Pinon, Simon, Ghedira, & Chekir-Ghedira, 2010).…”

Essential Oils of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf) Induces Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in A549 Lung Cancer Cells

“…Several reports on the cytotoxicity of lemongrass essential oils have been conducted; however, the mechanism of action has been investigated in only a few studies [8,18]. An ethanol extract of lemongrass exhibited significant anticancer properties in lymphoma and leukemia models and effectively induced apoptosis in a recent study [19]. A proapoptosis effect of the polysaccharide fraction of C. citratus has also been demonstrated [20].…”

Hibiscus flower extract selectively induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells and positively interacts with common chemotherapeutics

“…Hibiscus flower ( Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ) were obtained from Premier Herbal Inc. (Toronto, ON, Canada). This aqueous extraction protocol is similar to that previously published with the following modifications [18, 19]. The flowers were grinded using a coffee grinder into a fine powder.…”