Achyranthes aspera (Apamarg) leaf extract inhibits human pancreatic tumor growth in athymic mice by apoptosis.
BACKGROUND
Achyranthes aspera (Family Amaranthacea) is used for cancer therapy by ayurvedic medical practitioners in India. However, due to the non formal nature of its use, there are no systematic studies validating its medicinal properties. Thus, it's utility as an anti cancer agent remains anecdotal. Earlier, we demonstrated A. aspera to exhibit time and dose-dependent preferential cytotoxicity to cultured human pancreatic cancer cells. In this report we validate in vivo anti tumor properties of A. aspera.


METHODS
The in vivo anti tumor activity of leaf extract (LE) was tested by intraperitoneal (IP) injections into athymic mice harboring human pancreatic tumor subcutaneous xenograft. Toxicity was monitored by recording changes in behavioral, histological, hematological and body weight parameters.


RESULTS
Dosing LE to athymic mice by I.P. injection for 32 days showed no adverse reactions in treated mice. Compared to the control set, IP administration of LE to tumor bearing mice significantly reduced both tumor weight and volume. Gene expression analysis using Real time PCR methods revealed that LE significantly induced caspase-3 mRNA (p<0.001) and suppressed expression of the pro survival kinase Akt-1 (p<0.05). TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry confirmed apoptosis induction by activation of caspase-3 and inhibiting Akt phosphorylation in treated sets. These results are in agreement with RT PCR data.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, these data suggest A. aspera to have potent anti cancer property.
Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami FL-33136, USA. spochi@med.miami.edu
Pochi R
PR
Subbarayan
Malancha
M
Sarkar
Shamaladevi
S
Nagaraja Rao
Sakhi
S
Philip
Pradeep
P
Kumar
Norman
N
Altman
Isildinha
I
Reis
Mansoor
M
Ahmed
Bach
B
Ardalan
Bal L
BL
Lokeshwar
D029044:Achyranthes; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D053148:Caspase 3