Modification and Evaluation of the Potato Disc Assay and Antitumor Screening of Euphorbiaceae Seeds

Abstract

Galsky et al. (10, 11) have reported that the inhibition and growth of crown gall tumors, initiated on potato discs by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, apparently has good agreement with 3PS in vivo antileukemic activity in mice. We have now modified and evaluated this assay for its potential use as a prescreen and fractionation monitor of plant extracts for 3PS activity. The modified assay was performed on a series of natural compounds and plant extracts (known to have 3PS activity) and on extracts of seeds of 41 Euphorbiaceae species. The results suggest that the potato disc assay is a safe, simple, rapid, in-house, low cost, prescreen for 3PS antitumor activity; it detects some false positives, but few false negatives; it is statistically much more predictive (p = 0.002) of 3PS activity than either the 9KB (p = 0.140) or the 9PS (p = 0.114) cytotoxicity assays. Its extended use could easily obviate the expense and extensive need for animals in the initial stages of antitumor screening and plant fractionation.

Phytochemical characteristics, antimitotic, cytotoxic and antitumor activities of bark extract of Streblus asper Lour

“…31.86 and 40.44% was observed at 100 ppm and 1000 ppm of the extract, respectively (Table 4). Plant extracts showing more than 20% tumor inhibition were reported to be significant (Ferrigini et al 1982). Similar results were also reported by Islam et al (2010) and Mazid et al (2011) with other plant extracts.…”

Antibacterial and Antitumor Activities of Some Wild Fruits Grown in Turkey

“…Antitumor assay the antitumor activity of all extracts was assessed with the potato disc method as modified by McLaughlin's group (18). Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Atcc ® 23341) was cultured on Yeast extract Media (YeM) for 2-3 days at 28 °c.…”

“…Agrobacterium tumefaciens induced potato disc tumor assay is based on antimitotic activity and the validity of this bioassay is predicted on the observation that certain tumorigenic mechanisms are similar in plants and animals (13,19,39). it was demonstrated that inhibition of crown gall tumor initiation on potato disc showed an apparent correlation with compounds and plant extracts known to be active in the 3PS (in vivo, murine leukemia) antitumor assay (13,18,19,39). Biological screening studies of medicinal plants are important because folkloric usages of these plants gain some scientific justification.…”

Potential of Various Extracts of Tamarindus indica (Caesalpiniaceae) Leaves in the Treatment of Cancer

“…After incubation period, potato discs were stained with Lugol's solution and analyzed for staining using dissecting microscope under 10X magnification. Tumors lack starch and turned orange and normal discs stained dark blue colored 16,17 . The percentage inhibition was calculated using following equation: …”