title: Antiproliferative mechanism of the methanolic extract of Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb. (Fabaceae).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb. is a tropical tree that has folkloric implications against many ailments and diseases including cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  To explore the ethnopharmacological claims against cancer, the cytotoxicity of the methanolic extract of the leaves, was investigated using the brine shrimp lethality assay, MTT assay using cervical (HeLa) and breast (MCF7) cancer cell lines, cell cycle analysis and Annexin V-FITC/PI assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the brine shrimp lethality assay, the extract showed cytotoxic activity with LC50 value of 31.63 µg/mL. Significant growth inhibition was observed in both cell lines with IC50 values of 2.07 ± 1.30 µg/mL and 11.84 ± 1.18 µg/mL for HeLa and MCF7, respectively. Cell cycle analysis indicated that HeLa cells were arrested in the G2/M phase while MCF7 cells arrested in the G1/G0 phase. The Annexin V-FITC/PI assay revealed phosphatidylserine translocation in both cell lines and thus apoptosis induction upon treatment with the extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrated the potential antiproliferative activity of Enterolobium cyclocarpum thereby supporting the traditional claim and provides basis for further mechanistic studies and isolation of active constituents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria. Electronic address: asowemimo@unilag.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Abimbola
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sowemimo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa.
authors.forename: Luanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Venables
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Modeola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Odedeji
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koekemoer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa.
authors.forename: Maryna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van de Venter
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, 266003 Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hongbing
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001156:Artemia; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D007887:Fabaceae; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Apoptosis; Cancer; Cell cycle analysis; Enterolobium cyclocarpum