title: A dry extract of Phyllanthus niruri protects normal cells and induces apoptosis in human liver carcinoma cells.
abstract: The ability to induce apoptosis is an important marker for cytotoxic antitumor agents. Some natural compounds have been shown to modulate apoptosis pathways that are frequently blocked in human cancers, and therefore, these compounds provide novel opportunities for cancer drug development. Phyllanthus, a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae, exhibits multiple pharmacological actions. Of these, Phyllanthus niruri extracts exhibit significant antitumor activity, which is consistent with the traditional medicinal use of this plant. To examine the apoptotic effects of a spray-dried extract of P. niruri (SDEPN), human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2, Huh-7), colorectal carcinoma cells (Ht29) and keratinocytes (HaCaT) were exposed to the extract for 4, 8 and 24 h. Flow cytometry and caspase-3 immunostaining were used to detect apoptosis, while analysis of variance was applied to identify significant differences between groups (P < 0.05). At all timepoints, the SDEPN induced significantly different cytotoxic effects for HepG2 and Huh-7 cells compared with control cells (P < 0.001). In contrast, the SDEPN had a protective effect on HaCaT cells compared with control cells at all timepoints (P < 0.001). In caspase-3 assays, activation was detected after cell death was induced in Huh-7 and HepG2 cancer cells by the SDEPN. In combination, these results indicate that the SDEPN is selectively toxic towards cancer cell lines, yet is protective towards normal cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal.
authors.forename: Raimundo Fernandes
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: de Araújo Júnior
authors.forename: Tatiane Pereira
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Júlia Glória Lucatelli
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Luiz Alberto Lira
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Aurigena Antunes
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.forename: Pedro Ros
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Petrovick
authors.forename: Helainy Daline Oliveira
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Mâcedo
authors.forename: Ana Luiza Cabral
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: de Sá Leitão Oliveira
authors.forename: Gerlane Coelho Bernardo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Guerra
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D019073:HT29 Cells; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D029803:Phyllanthus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053148:Caspase 3