Anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects of Strychnos nux-vomica root extract on human multiple myeloma cell line - RPMI 8226.
Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematological malignancy with high incidence in the elderly. The currently used chemotherapeutic drugs show severe side effects, dose-limiting toxicity and development of resistance. In search of novel plant derived anti-cancer agents, Strychnos nux-vomica L. (SN) root extract was screened using the human MM-cell line, RPMI 8226. SN-extract exhibited anti-proliferative activity in a dose and time dependent manner. The morphological assessment of SN-extract treated cells showed significant features associated with apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry of cells stained with propidium iodide revealed accumulation of cells at sub-G(0)/G(1) phase. In addition, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential and subsequent leakage of mitochondrial cytochrome c was observed in SN-extract treated myeloma cells. The anti-proliferative and cytotoxic activity could be due to the alkaloids strychnine and brucine, which have been identified by LC-mass spectral analysis of the SN-extract in comparison to the reference standards analyzed under identical conditions.
Rao
Pasupuleti Sreenivasa
PS
Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Hyderabad, School of Life Sciences, Gachhibowli, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 500 046, India. sraopasupuleti@yahoo.com
Ramanadham
Madduri
M
Prasad
Majeti Narasimha Vara
MN
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D013331:Strychnine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D031461:Strychnos nux-vomica / Q000737:chemistry*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; C083806:brucine; D045304:Cytochromes c; D013331:Strychnine