Crude aqueous extracts of <it>Pluchea indica</it> (L.) Less. inhibit proliferation and migration of cancer cells through induction of p53-dependent cell death

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Pluchea indica</it> (L.) Less. (Asteraceae) is a perennial shrub plant with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant medicinal properties. However, the anti-cancer properties of its aqueous extracts have not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-proliferation, anti-migration, and pro-apoptotic properties of crude aqueous extracts of <it>P. indica</it> leaf and root on human malignant glioma cancer cells and human cervical cancer cells, and the underlying molecular mechanism.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>GBM8401 human glioma cells and HeLa cervical carcinoma cells were treated with various concentrations of crude aqueous extracts of <it>P. indica</it> leaf and root and cancer cell proliferation and viability were measured by cell growth curves, trypan blue exclusions, and the tetrazolium reduction assay. Effects of the crude aqueous extracts on focus formation, migration, and apoptosis of cancer cells were studied as well. The molecular mechanism that contributed to the anti-cancer activities of crude aqueous extracts of <it>P. indica</it> root was also examined using Western blotting analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Crude aqueous extracts of <it>P. indica</it> leaf and root suppressed proliferation, viability, and migration of GBM8401 and HeLa cells. Treatment with crude aqueous extracts of <it>P. indica</it> leaf and root for 48 hours resulted in a significant 75% and 70% inhibition on proliferation and viability of GBM8401 and HeLa cancer cells, respectively. Crude aqueous extracts of <it>P. indica</it> root inhibited focus formation and promoted apoptosis of HeLa cells. It was found that phosphorylated-p53 and p21 were induced in GBM8401 and HeLa cells treated with crude aqueous extracts of <it>P. indica</it> root. Expression of phosphorylated-AKT was decreased in HeLa cells treated with crude aqueous extracts of <it>P. indica</it> root.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The <it>in vitro</it> anti-cancer effects of crude aqueous extracts of <it>P. indica</it> leaf and root indicate that it has sufficient potential to warrant further examination and development as a new anti-cancer agent.</p

The Spectrometer/Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX)

Aims. The Spectrometer Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX) on Solar Orbiter is a hard X-ray imaging spectrometer, which covers the energy range from 4 to 150 keV. STIX observes hard X-ray bremsstrahlung emissions from solar flares and therefore provides diagnostics of the hottest (\ue2\uaa\u2020 10 MK) flare plasma while quantifying the location, spectrum, and energy content of flare-accelerated nonthermal electrons. Methods. To accomplish this, STIX applies an indirect bigrid Fourier imaging technique using a set of tungsten grids (at pitches from 0.038 to 1 mm) in front of 32 coarsely pixelated CdTe detectors to provide information on angular scales from 7 to 180 arcsec with 1 keV energy resolution (at 6 keV). The imaging concept of STIX has intrinsically low telemetry and it is therefore well-suited to the limited resources available to the Solar Orbiter payload. To further reduce the downlinked data volume, STIX data are binned on board into 32 selectable energy bins and dynamically-adjusted time bins with a typical duration of 1 s during flares. Results. Through hard X-ray diagnostics, STIX provides critical information for understanding the acceleration of electrons at the Sun and their transport into interplanetary space and for determining the magnetic connection of Solar Orbiter back to the Sun. In this way, STIX serves to link Solar Orbiter's remote and in-situ measurements. \ua9 2020 ESO