title: Pro-apoptotic and anti-adhesive effects of four African plant extracts on the breast cancer cell line MCF-7.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Jatropha curcas (JCP1), Pyrenacantha staudtii (PS), Picralima nitida (ZI) and Jatropha gossypifolia (JCP2) are plants used in the African folklore for the treatment of various cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated the in vitro anticancer effects of the ethanol extracts against human epithelial MCF-7 breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner (1-50 μg/ml) by using cell cycle analysis, viability assay, annexin V/PI staining, TUNEL method and expression determination of apoptotic and adhesion relevant proteins. Adhesion processes were monitored by detachment via flow cytometry, β1-integrin expression and formation of the actin cytoskeleton.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three extracts, termed PS, JCP1 and JCP2 at a concentration of 10 μg/ml induced cell death in MCF-7 breast cancer cells verified by high amounts of PI-positive cells in the cell cycle analysis, Annexin V/PI staining and DNA fragmentation measurements. In parallel cell detachment was accompanied by decreased β1- integrin expression and phosphorylation of the focal adhesion kinase at Tyr397. ZI extract was the exception by the increasing β1-integrin expression and strengthening the cortical actin cytoskeleton. However, all four plant extracts mediated strong anti-cancer properties with IC50 values between 23-38 μg/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PS, JCP1 and JCP2 were found to be very active against MCF-7 cells by inducing anoikis and therefore possessing vast potential as medicinal drugs especially in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer treatment. ZI mediated their anti-cancer action by different signaling mechanisms which should be analyzed in future studies. Our results further supported the idea that medicinal plants can be promising sources of putative anticancer agents.
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001, Nigeria. faloabi@uniben.edu.
authors.forename: Abiodun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falodun
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kragl
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nebe
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D031286:Jatropha / Q000737:chemistry; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019012:Integrin beta1; D010936:Plant Extracts