title: Lycium europaeum fruit extract: antiproliferative activity on A549 human lung carcinoma cells and PC12 rat adrenal medulla cancer cells and assessment of its cytotoxicity on cerebellum granule cells.
abstract: Cancer is a major worldwide health problem and one of the leading causes of death either in developed or developing countries. Plant extracts and derivatives have always been used for various disease treatments and many anticancer agents issued from plants and vegetables are clinically recognized and used all over the world. Lycium europaeum (Solanaceae) also called "wolfberry" was known since ancient times in the Mediterranean area as a medicinal plant and used in several traditional remedies. The Lycium species capacity of reducing the incidence of cancer and also of halting or reserving the growth of cancer was reported by traditional healers. In this study, the antiproliferative capacity, protective properties, and antioxidant activity of the hydro-alcoholic fruit extract of Lycium europaeum were investigated. Results showed that Lycium extract exhibits the ability to reduce cancer cell viability, inhibits proliferation, and induces apoptosis in A549 human lung cancer cells and PC12 rat adrenal medulla cancer cells, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Cytotoxic effect on normal rat cerebellum granule cells was assessed to be nonsignificant. Results also showed that Lycium fruit extract protected lipids, proteins, and DNA against oxidative stress damages induced by H2O2 via scavenging reactive oxygen species.
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Active Biomolecules, National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, University of Carthage , Tunis , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Wafa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ghali
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaudry
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jouenne
authors.forename: Mohamed Nejib
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Marzouki
mesh_terms: D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053179:Caspase 7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D032305:Lycium / Q000737:chemistry*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505520:CASP7 protein, human; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D053179:Caspase 7