title: The latex sap of the 'Old World Plant' Lagenaria siceraria with potent lectin activity mitigates neoplastic malignancy targeting neovasculature and cell death.
abstract: Lifestyle and dietary modifications have contributed much to somatic genetic alteration which has concomitantly led to increase in malignant diseases. Henceforth, plant based and dietary interventions to mitigate and impede oncogenic transformation are in great demand. We investigated the latex sap (LSL) of the dietary Lagenaria siceraria vegetable, the first domesticated plant species with the potent lectin activity for its functional role against the tumor progression and its mechanism. LSL has markedly stimulated proliferation of lymphocytes and displayed strong cytotoxic activity against cancer both in-vitro and in-vivo. The tumor regression was paralleled with drastic reduction in tumoral neovasculature as evidenced from angiogenic parameters and abrogated related gene expressions. LSL has also triggered apoptotic signaling cascade in cancer cells through activation of caspase-3 mediated activation of endonuclease and inducing apoptotic cellular events. Collectively our study provides tangible evidences that latex sap from L. siceraria with immunopotentiating ability significantly regresses the tumor progression by targeting angiogenesis and inducing cell death.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, Postgraduate Department of Studies and Research in Biotechnology, Sahyadri Science College (Autonomous), Kuvempu University, Shivamogga 577203, Karnataka, India; Laboratory for Immunomodulation and Inflammation Biology, Department of Studies and Research in Biochemistry, Sahyadri Science College (Autonomous), Kuvempu University, Shivamogga 577203, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vigneshwaran
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, Postgraduate Department of Studies and Research in Biotechnology, Sahyadri Science College (Autonomous), Kuvempu University, Shivamogga 577203, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Prabhu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thirusangu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Immunomodulation and Inflammation Biology, Department of Studies and Research in Biochemistry, Sahyadri Science College (Autonomous), Kuvempu University, Shivamogga 577203, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madhusudana
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Department of Studies and Research in Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Shivamogga 577203, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Immunomodulation and Inflammation Biology, Department of Studies and Research in Biochemistry, Sahyadri Science College (Autonomous), Kuvempu University, Shivamogga 577203, Karnataka, India. Electronic address: snpramod20@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Siddanakoppalu N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Pramod
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, Postgraduate Department of Studies and Research in Biotechnology, Sahyadri Science College (Autonomous), Kuvempu University, Shivamogga 577203, Karnataka, India. Electronic address: prabhakarbt@gmail.com.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Prabhakar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007840:Latex / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007840:Latex; D037121:Plant Lectins
keywords: Antiangiogenesis; Antitumor; Apoptosis; Lagenaria siceraria; Latex sap; Lectin