title: Anticancer potential of selectedFallopiaAdans species.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine the anticancer potential of three species belonging to theFallopiagenus (Polygonaceae):Fallopia convolvulus(F. convolvulus,Fallopia dumetorum(F. dumetorum) andFallopia aubertii(F. aubertii). For this purpose, crude extracts were obtained and characterized for their phenolic and flavonoid total content and examined for their anticancer activity on three tumor cell lines: breast cancer (MCF7), colon carcinoma (Caco-2) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. The cytotoxic potential of the three species was assessed by MTT assay, cell cycle analysis and by the evaluation of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The acute toxicity of the extracts was evaluated using onein vitrocell model (Vero cells, an African Green monkey kidney cell line) and two invertebratein vivomodels (Daphnia magnaandArtemia salina). The highest total phenolic and flavonoid content was found in theF. aubertiiflower extracts. The cytotoxic effects of the extracts fromF. aubertiiandF. convolvuluson all three cell lines were examined at concentrations ranging from 3 to 300 µg/ml. G2/M cell cycle arrest was induced by all the extracts, and a significant increase in the subG1 cell population was observed. The hydroethanolic extract from the flowers ofF. aubertiiinduced cell apoptosis more rapidly than the other extracts. The MMP indicates the involvement of the mitochondria in the induction of apoptosis. A positive correlation between the total phenolic content of the extracts and the IC50values against the HeLa cells was also noted. None of the extracts exhibited significantly toxic effects. Considering the antitumor potential ofF. aubertiiandF. convolvulus, these two species may represent a good source of plant extracts with anticancer properties.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest 020956, Romania.
authors.forename: Octavian Tudorel
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Olaru
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 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: Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest 020956, Romania.
authors.forename: George Mihai
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Nitulescu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest 020956, Romania.
authors.forename: Denisa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Margina
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Virology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece.
authors.forename: Demetrios A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Spandidos
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece.
authors.forename: Aristidis M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tsatsakis
keywords: apoptosis; cell cycle analysis; flavonoids; invertebrate bioassays; mitochondrial membrane potential