Combining in vitro and in ovo assays to screen for anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic effects of the leaf extracts of Mallotus cumingii Müll.Arg. (Euphorbiaceae)

Cancer treatment is often challenging and various interventions may have detrimental effects. Due to this, the development of less harmful alternatives such as herbal medicine is essential. The present study aims to determine the leaf phytoconstituents present and the bioactivities of Mallotus cumingii Müll.Arg against cancer cells through the utilization of MTT assay and anti-angiogenesis through CAM assay. The leaf extracts obtained three fractions namely, methanolic crude (MCME) extracts, hexane extracts (MCHE), and ethyl acetate extracts (MCEA), and was tested on HCT-116 for in vitro cytotoxicity, and blood vessel density and branching through in ovo CAM assay. Phytochemical analysis showed that the M. cumingii fractions contain phenolic compounds, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, and saponins. For in vitro set-up, MCME of M. cumingii were separated into MCHE and MCEA partitions and were tested against HCT-116 and obtained an IC50 value of < 30 μg/mL, which is deemed active in cytotoxicity. For in ovo set-up, two concentrations of each extract were applied to the duck eggs. Blood vessel density and number of branching points were measured through the ImageJ analysis. All extracts exhibited antiangiogenic activity, either by decreasing blood vessel density or the number of branching points. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of M. cumingii as a source of therapeutic agents

Plant extracts as natural photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy: in vitro activity against human mammary adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells

Objective: To examine three plant extracts [Lumnitzera racemosa (Combretaceae) (L. racemosa), Albizia procera (Fabaceae) (A. procera) and Cananga odorata (Annonaceae)] for their potential as source of photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy. Methods: Human mammary adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells were treated with the plant extracts, which were irradiated with 5.53 mW and 0.553 mW broadband light. Cell viability was assessed using MTT assay and induction of apoptosis was determined using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-dUTP nick end labeling assay. Results: The crude ethanolic extracts, independently, were nontoxic against cancer and non-cancer cells but when irradiated with 5.53 mW broadband light, L. racemosa and A. procera extracts were cytotoxic against MCF-7 with IC50 of 11.63 μg/mL and 10.73 μg/mL, respectively. With 0.553 mW broadband light, the IC50 values were higher at 17.14 μg/mL and 19.59 μg/mL, respectively. Photoactivated L. racemosa and A. procera extracts were found to be more cytotoxic against MCF-7 than the non-cancer cell line, human dermal fibroblast-neonatal. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of the extracts was mediated by apoptosis. Conclusions: Two of the plant extracts used, L. racemosa and A. procera were toxic and induced apoptosis to mammary cell adenocarcinoma, MCF-7 when photoactivated. These extracts were also more toxic to human cancer than non-cancer cell lines