title: Effects of crude aqueous medicinal plant extracts on growth and invasion of breast cancer cells.
abstract: Plants used in folklore medicine continue to be an important source of discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents. In the present study, we determined the effects of crude aqueous extracts of a panel of medicinal plants on the growth and invasion of cancer cells. Our results showed that extracts of L. tridentata (Creosote Bush) and J. communis L. (Juniper Berry) significantly decreased the growth of MCF-7/AZ breast cancer cells. The latter as well as A. californica (Yerba Mansa) inhibited invasion into the collagen type I gel layer. Furthermore, the phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) decreased when the cells were exposed to aqueous extracts of L. tridentata, J. communis L. and A. californica. This study provides original scientific data on the anticancer activity of selected aqueous medicinal plant extracts used in traditional medicine.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemical and Biomedical Research, Department of Chemistry and Biology, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM 87801, USA.
authors.forename: Severine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Slambrouck
authors.forename: Amber L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Carla J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hooten
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Brock
authors.forename: Aaron R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Marcia A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ogasawara
authors.forename: Joann M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adkins
authors.forename: Eerik M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: Vincent J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Agustin
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Constantine
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pullin
authors.forename: Scott T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Shors
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kornienko
authors.forename: Wim F A
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Steelant
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D002452:Cell Count; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018653:Juniperus / Q000737:chemistry*; D032442:Larrea / Q000737:chemistry*; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D032134:Saururaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3