title: Cancer cell specific cytotoxic effect of Rhoeo discolor extracts and solvent fractions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditional or folk medicine has led to the discovery of important bioactive substances used in several health-related areas. Phytochemicals in Rhoeo discolor (R. discolor) extracts have proven to have important cancer cell specific cytotoxic activity. In the present research, we determined the cytotoxic effect of extracts of R. discolor, a plant commonly used in Mexico for both medicinal and ornamental purposes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the cytotoxic effects against three representative human cancer cell lines: HT-29 colon cancer, Hep-G2 liver cancer and PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines, as well as a control fibroblast cell line NIH 3T3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten different crude extracts were tested along with fractions derived from the five most bioactive crude extracts. Analytical data, HPLC-MS-TOF, revealed a high content of phenolic compounds such as anthocyanins, ferulic, vanillic, chlorogenic and p-coumaric acid in the extracts. Phenolic compounds have previously been reported as health beneficial with antioxidant and potential cancer specific cytotoxic effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Studies revealed that low concentrations of these crude bioactive extracts (10µg/ml) and their fractions (50µg/ml) were effective as cancer specific cytotoxic agents, since they caused a significant proliferation inhibition on cancer cell lines (up to 94.2% in HT-29, 92.9% in Hep-G2 and 61.8% in PC-3 of apoptosis induction) with little harm to the control cell line (no higher than 28.3% apoptosis induction), and, importantly, the most effective extracts were mainly water, methanol and ethanol based.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that a diet containing these compounds may function as a medical aid or chemoprotective.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnología FEMSA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, C.P. 64849 Monterrey, NL, México; Centro de Agrobiotecnología, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, C.P. 64849 Monterrey, NL, México.
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García-Varela
authors.affiliation: Centro de Innovación y Transferida en Salud, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Av. Morones Prieto No. 3000 Pte., Col. Los Doctores, C.P. 64710 Monterrey, NL, México.
authors.forename: Oscar Raúl
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Fajardo Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnología FEMSA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, C.P. 64849 Monterrey, NL, México; Instituto de Cardiología y Medicina Vascular, Escuela de Medicina, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Batallón San Patricio 112 Col. Valle de San Agustín CP 66278, San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, México.
authors.forename: Sergio O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Serna-Saldivar
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Cardiología y Medicina Vascular, Escuela de Medicina, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Batallón San Patricio 112 Col. Valle de San Agustín CP 66278, San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, México.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Altamirano
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnología FEMSA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, C.P. 64849 Monterrey, NL, México; Centro de Agrobiotecnología, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, C.P. 64849 Monterrey, NL, México. Electronic address: Guy.Cardineau@itesm.mx.
authors.forename: Guy A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Cardineau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D019073:HT29 Cells; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D034823:Tradescantia / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Cancer; Cytotoxic; Phenolic compounds – antioxidant; Rhoeo discolor; Traditional medicine