title: Alkaloid extracts of Ficus species and palm oil-derived tocotrienols synergistically inhibit proliferation of human cancer cells.
abstract: Tocotrienols have been reported to possess anticancer effects other than anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. This study explored the potential synergism of antiproliferative effects induced by individual alkaloid extracts of Ficus fistulosa, Ficus hispida and Ficus schwarzii combined with δ- and γ-tocotrienols against human brain glioblastoma (U87MG), lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cells. Cell viability and morphological results demonstrated that extracts containing a mixture of alkaloids from the leaves and bark of F. schwarzii inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cells, whereas the alkaloid extracts of F. fistulosa inhibited the proliferation of both U87MG and HT-29 cells and showed synergism in combined treatments with either δ- or γ-tocotrienol resulting in 2.2-34.7 fold of reduction in IC50 values of tocotrienols. The observed apoptotic cell characteristics in conjunction with the synergistic antiproliferative effects of Ficus species-derived alkaloids and tocotrienols assuredly warrant future investigations towards the development of a value-added chemotherapeutic regimen against cancers.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Science, School of Biosciences, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus , Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih , Selangor , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ibrahim Babangida
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Abubakar
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Science, School of Pharmacy, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus , Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih , Selangor , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kuan-Hon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Science, School of Biosciences, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus , Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih , Selangor , Malaysia.|c Biotechnology Research Centre, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus , Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih , Selangor , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hwei-San
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Loh
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D030681:Ficus / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D000073878:Palm Oil; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D024508:Tocotrienols / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; D024508:Tocotrienols; D000073878:Palm Oil
keywords: Ficus fistulosa; Ficus hispida; Ficus schwarzii; antiproliferative; cancer cells; synergism; tocotrienols