title: Cytotoxic effect of Pouteria torta leaf extracts on human oral and breast carcinomas cell lines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at investigating the cytotoxic activity and the type of cell death induced by Pouteria torta (P. torta) leaf extracts on human oral squamous cell carcinoma and breast carcinoma cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of P. torta leaf hexanic (PTH), ethanolic (PTE) and aqueous (PTA) extracts at the concentration of 500 mg/mL were evaluated on OSCC-3 and MCF-7 cell lines, using crystal violet staining after 24 and 48 h of treatment. To obtain the dose-response curve, cells were treated with decreasing concentrations of the extracts (1000, 750, 500, 250, 125 mg/mL) for 24 h. To investigate the mechanism of cell death (apoptosis vs. necrosis), DNA fragmentation assay was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All extracts were cytotoxic to both OSCC-3 and MCF-7, albeit at differing levels. PTH and PTE were effective at the concentration of 500 μg/mL, resulting in nearly 50% of cell death in both cancer cell lines. PTA was more effective at lower concentrations, with more significant cell death at 125 g/mL. Treatment with PTA and PTE caused apoptosis in MCF-7, whereas in OSCC-3 cells, the same effect could only be caused by PTH. On the other hand, PTA was able to induce necrosis in OSCC-3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrated that P. torta leaf extracts may contain useful compounds to combat oral and breast cancer, and this study highlights the potential biological relevance of the Brazilian Cerrado Biome in cancer therapy.
authors: Silvia T
authors: ST
authors: Elias
authors: Paloma M
authors: PM
authors: Salles
authors: José E
authors: JE
authors: de Paula
authors: Luiz A
authors: LA
authors: Simeoni
authors: Dâmaris
authors: D
authors: Silveira
authors: Eliete N S
authors: EN
authors: Guerra
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Health Sciences Faculty, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
authors: Andrea B
authors: AB
authors: Motoyama
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D032132:Pouteria / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts