title: Catharanthus roseus Aqueous Extract is Cytotoxic to Jurkat Leukaemic T-cells but Induces the Proliferation of Normal Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.
abstract: Research on natural products has been widely used as a strategy to discover new drugs with potential for applications in complementary medicines because they have fewer side effects than conventional drugs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic effects of crude aqueous Catharanthus roseus extract on Jurkat cells and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The aqueous extract was standardised to vinblastine by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and was used to determine cytotoxicity by the MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium] assay. DNA fragmentation assay was employed to determine if cell death was due to apoptosis. The results showed that the aqueous extract induced cell death of Jurkat cells at 24, 48 and 72 hours post-treatment in a time- and dose-dependent manner. However, cells treated at 48 and 72 hours produced higher cytotoxic effects with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 2.55 μg/ml and 2.38 μg/ml, respectively. In contrast, the extract induced normal PBMC proliferation, especially after 24 hours treatment with 1000 μg/ml. This result indicates that the C. roseus crude aqueous extract showed differential effects of inhibiting the proliferation of the Jurkat cell line and promoting the growth of PBMCs. These data suggest that the extract may be applicable for modulating the normal and transformed immune cells in leukaemia patients.
authors.affiliation: Unit Kanser MAKNA-USM, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Suites 121 & 141, Eureka Complex, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nor Hazwani
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Unit Kanser MAKNA-USM, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Suites 121 & 141, Eureka Complex, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rohanizah Abdul
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rahim
authors.affiliation: Unit Kanser MAKNA-USM, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Suites 121 & 141, Eureka Complex, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ishak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mat
keywords: Anticancer; Aqueous Extract; Catharanthus roseus; Jurkat Cells; Vinblastine