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The Effects of Vernonia cinerea Less Extracts on Antioxidant Gene Expression in Colorectal Cancer Cells
Jidapa Pakpisutkul1, Jinjuta Suwapraphan1, Nattanaporn Sripayak1
1Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
Objectives:
To investigate the capability of Vernonia cinerea extracts to disrupt the intracellular oxidative-antioxidative status in colorectal cancer cells.
Methods:
All experiments were conducted on two colorectal cancer cell lines (SW620 and HT29) with aqueous and ethanol extracts of Vernonia cinerea (VC). The cytotoxicity of both extracts was evaluated using MTT assay. Cells were treated for 1, 4, and 7 days with different concentrations of aqueous and ethanol extracts ranging from 100-700 and 10-150 μg/ml respectively. The antioxidant capacity of cell lysates was determined by the 2, 2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) radical scavenging activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) inhibitory effect. The possible action mechanism was also investigated through gene expression of antioxidant enzymes, i.e. superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase.
Results:
Both aqueous and ethanol extracts showed dose/time-dependent manners in all assays. Ethanol extract had a higher potency for cytotoxicity with obviously lower IC50 and a higher antioxidant capability in cytoplasmic content than aqueous extract, especially at 4-day treatment. Low MDA content and gene expression alteration of four enzymes involved in antioxidant status were found in cells treated with ethanol extract compared to aqueous extract.
Conclusions:
Ethanol VC extracts can cause cytotoxicity to human colorectal cancer cells, possibly be involved in oxidative stress, and/or interfere with oxidative-antioxidative balance by radical scavenging in vitro.
Insights
Ethanol extracts of Vernonia cinerea (VC) show potential in targeting colorectal cancer cells by inducing cytotoxicity and disrupting the oxidative-antioxidative balance. These findings suggest VC as a possible agent for cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Phytochemistry
- Cancer Biology
- Oxidative Stress Research
Background:
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant global health challenge.
- Understanding the role of oxidative-antioxidative status in cancer progression is crucial for developing novel therapies.
- Natural compounds offer a promising avenue for cancer treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Vernonia cinerea (VC) extracts in modulating intracellular oxidative-antioxidative status in colorectal cancer cells.
- To investigate the cytotoxic effects and antioxidant capacity of aqueous and ethanol VC extracts.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms of VC action on cancer cell gene expression related to antioxidant enzymes.
Main Methods:
- Cytotoxicity was assessed using MTT assay on SW620 and HT29 colorectal cancer cell lines.
- Antioxidant capacity was measured via ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) inhibition.
- Gene expression analysis of key antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase) was performed.
Main Results:
- Both aqueous and ethanol VC extracts demonstrated dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effects.
- Ethanol extract exhibited superior cytotoxicity and antioxidant capacity compared to the aqueous extract, particularly after 4 days of treatment.
- Ethanol extract treatment led to reduced MDA levels and altered gene expression of antioxidant enzymes in cancer cells.
Conclusions:
- Ethanol extracts of Vernonia cinerea possess significant cytotoxic potential against human colorectal cancer cells.
- VC extracts may induce cancer cell death by interfering with the oxidative-antioxidative balance and promoting oxidative stress.
- These findings highlight the potential of Vernonia cinerea as a source for novel anti-colorectal cancer agents.
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