In vitro anticancer activity of Anemopsis californica

Three different extract conditions (aqueous, EtOH and EtOAc) of four different parts (bracts, leaves, roots and stems) of the plant Anemopsis californica (A. californica) were evaluated for their effect on the growth and migration of human colon cancer cells, HCT-8, and the breast cancer cell lines Hs 578T and MCF-7/AZ. Our aim was to identify potential anticancer activity in crude A. californica extracts, given that this plant is used by Native Americans to treat a variety of diseases, including cancer. Our results demonstrated that for each of the cell lines tested, the majority of ethyl acetate extracts of all the plant parts are more toxic than the aqueous and ethanol extracts. Furthermore, significant growth inhibitory activity against the three cell lines was found for the ethyl acetate extract of the roots, while the aqueous extract of the roots influenced the migratory capacity of the three cell lines. This study provides evidence for the anticancer properties of A. californica when extracted in water and ethyl acetate, and supports the importance for further purification of the crude extracts and isolation of potential new anticancer compounds through bio-guided fractionation.