title: Evaluation of in vitro anticancer activity of Ocimum basilicum, Alhagi maurorum, Calendula officinalis and their parasite Cuscuta campestris.
abstract: The present investigation was carried out to study the relationship between presence of cytotoxic compounds in Ocimum basilicum, Alhagi maurorum, Calendula officinalis and their parasite Cuscuta campestris. The cytotoxic activity of the pure compounds was performed by MTT assay against breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and normal breast cell line (MCF 10A). The induction of apoptosis was measured by the expression levels of p53, bcl-2, bax and caspase-3 genes using quantitative Real Time PCR. Three active fractions were detected by nuclear magnetic resonance as lutein, lupeol and eugenol, respectively, in C. officinalis, A. maurorum and O. basilicum. These compounds and their epoxidized forms were also detected in their parasite C. campestris. The cytotoxic activity of lutein epoxide, lupeol epoxide and eugenol epoxide was significantly more than lutein, lupeol and eugenol. The mRNA expression level of p53, caspase-3 and bax genes were increased in both cancer cells treated with all pure compounds. However, bcl-2 gene expression decreased in treated breast cancer cells. In conclusion, all the data indicated that the epoxide forms of lupeol, lutein and eugenol are potential drug candidates for inducing apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Mandana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behbahani
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020838:Calendula / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000469:parasitology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D034182:Cuscuta / Q000737:chemistry*; D005054:Eugenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D014975:Lutein / Q000494:pharmacology; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D018649:Ocimum basilicum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000469:parasitology; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000094042:Lupanes
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053148:Caspase 3; D005054:Eugenol; D014975:Lutein; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C494826:BAX protein, human; C495901:TP53 protein, human; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C010480:lupeol; D000094042:Lupanes