title: Evaluation of anticancer properties of a decoction containing Adenanthera pavonina L. and Thespesia populnea L.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A decoction composed of Adenanthera pavonina L. and Thespesia populnea L. is currently being used in the treatment of cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) release, (3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) MTT, and Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays were carried out to study cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative activity against the HEp-2 cells, 24 h post-treatment with the decoction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (± SD) values of EC50 were 195.50 (±40.68), 120.02 (±29.82) and 77.06 (±8.80) μg/ml for LDH, MTT, and SRB assays respectively. These results strongly correlate the morphological changes observed in cells treated with the decoction. Induction of apoptosis was visualized by fluorescence microscopy stained with ethidium bromide/acridine orange dye mix. In addition, brine shrimp lethality assay showed an EC50 value at a higher concentration (1.96 mg/mL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the decoction prepared with Adenanthera pavonina L. and Thespesia populnea L. exhibits anti-proliferative activity and induces apoptosis on the HEp-2 cancer cells but no toxicity against Artemia salina.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka. indikalha@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Indeewari K S
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Lindamulage
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka. indunilsree@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Preethi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soysa
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D019660:Malvaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts