Anticancer Activity of Cissus quadrangularis: An in vitro 2D Model Based Study

Cissus quadrangularis (CQ) is a perennial rambling shrub of the grape family commonly known as “Hadjora” (in Hindi) probably native to India or Sri Lanka. It is one of the valuable medicines in the Indian Traditional Systems of Medicine because of the presence of several bioactive compounds. However, in the present study we have checked its anticancer activity along with its safety profile on normal skin cells. Apart from this we have generated the spheroid HeLa culture in vitro model for analyzing the CQ extract response on the growth of HeLa tumoroid. From the present findings we have observed that the CQ selectively induces cytotoxicity, ROS liberation and G1 phase cell cycle arrest only in HeLa cancer cells without affecting the normal skin cells at similar dose. CQ also significantly inhibits the growth of tumoroid and finally leads to cell death as revealed by phase contrast microscopy. Therefore, it can be concluded from the present findings that CQ extract shows targeted anticancer activity, though the mechanism of action in support of its exhibited activity needs to be further explored

Chemically synthesized CdSe quantum dots inhibit growth of human lung carcinoma cells via ROS generation

Quantum dots (QDs), semiconducting materials have potential applications in the field of electronic and biomedical applications including cancer therapy. In present study, cadmium selenide (CdSe) QDs were synthesized by chemical method. Octadecene was used as non-coordinating solvent which facilitated the formation of colloidal solutions of nanoparticles. CdSe QDs were characterized by UV-vis spectrometer and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The size measured by TEM was varied between 2-5 nm depending upon temperature. The cytotoxic activity of QDs was monitored by MTT assay, nuclear condensation, ROS activity and DNA fragmentation assay on human lung epithelial A549 cell line. Cells were treated with different concentrations of varying size of CdSe QDs for 24 h. CdSe QDs induced significant (p < 0.05) dose dependent cytotoxicity and this was comparable to the sizes of particles. Smaller particles were more cytotoxic to the large particles. Fluorescence microscopic analysis revealed that QDs induced oxidative stress generating significant ROS level and consequently, induced nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation. Study suggested the cytotoxicity of CdSe QDs via ROS generation and DNA fragmentation depending upon particles size

Cissus quadrangularis Linn. Stem Ethanolic Extract Liberates Reactive Oxygen Species and Induces Mitochondria Mediated Apoptosis in KB Cells

Background: Cissus quadrangularis Linn. (CQ) commonly known as Hadjod (Family: Vitaceae) is usually distributed in India and Sri Lanka and contains several bioactive compounds responsible for various metabolic and physiologic effects. Objective: In this study, the biological effects of CQ ethanolic extract were evaluated by in vitro and supported by in silico analysis on KB oral epidermoid cancer cell line. Materials and methods: Anti-cancer potential of ethanolic extract of CQ stem against KB oral epidermoid cancer cells was evaluated in terms of morphological analysis, nuclei staining, liberation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and p53 and Bcl-2 protein expression which reveal the induction of apoptosis along with supporting in silico analysis. Results: Ethanolic extract of CQ stem contains various bioactive compounds responsible for cancer cell morphological alterations, liberation of ROS, G1 phase cell cycle arrest and decreased MMP along with up-regulation of p53 and down-regulation of Bcl-2. By employing in silico approach, we have also postulated that the CQ extract active constituents sequester Bcl-2 with higher affinity as compared to p53, which may be the reason for induction of growth arrest and apoptosis in KB cells. Conclusion: Our data indicate that the CQ extract has a remarkable apoptotic effect that suggests that it could be a viable treatment option for specific types of cancers. Summary: Cissus quadrangularis stem ethanolic extract induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G1 phaseIt liberates (ROS) and mitochondria mediated apoptosisIt upregulates p53 and down-regulates Bcl-2 protein expressionIn silico studies indicates that the active constituents of CQ binds Bcl-2 with higher affinity as compared to p53

Phytochemicals enriched Punica granatum L. peel extract promotes the chondrocyte proliferation by inducing cell cycle progression and inhibiting of NO-induced cell death and ROS production

17-28Punica granatum L. has been used as a traditional remedy to treat sore throat, cough, digestive and skin disorders, urinary infection, arthritis and expel tape-worm. Modern research focuses on its use on arthritis, diabetes and cancer. The present study was conducted to identify the bioactive phytochemicals in the ethanolic extract of Punica granatum peel (PGP) through GC-MS to illustrate its proliferation, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activities in an established in vitro primary cultured chondrocyte. The cells were treated with 25 μM indomethacin, positive control and different concentration of PGP in the absence or presence of different inhibitors such as (H2O2 for ROS production and sodium nitroprusside [SNP] for nitric oxide [NO] induced cell death). The cell viability assay and cell cycle analysis were performed to study the proliferation of cells. Oxidative stress was measured as intracellular ROS and anti-apoptotic activities were studied through nuclear staining assays like DAPI and PI-Exclusion staining. The GC-MS result indicates the presence various antioxidants such as kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, luteolin, ascorbic acid, gallic acid, vitamin C and lycopene. The PGP treatment on chondrocytes shows increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis through the reduction of oxidative stress in a concentration-dependent manner. The rise in the total number of chondrocytes at higher doses of PGP was significant (p<0.05) as compared to indomethacin (positive control) treated cells. The findings suggest that PGP exhibits therapeutic antioxidant potential due to the presence of bioactive components regulating oxidative stress , promoting the chondrocytes proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis of chondrocytes

Anticancer Activity of Cissus quadrangularis: An in vitro 2D Model Based Study

Cissus quadrangularis (CQ) is a perennial rambling shrub of the grape family commonly known a

Induction of apoptosis and antiproliferative activity of naringenin in human epidermoid carcinoma cell through ROS generation and cell cycle arrest.

A natural predominant flavanone naringenin, especially abundant in citrus fruits, has a wide range of pharmacological activities. The search for antiproliferative agents that reduce skin carcinoma is a task of great importance. The objective of this study was to analyze the anti-proliferative and apoptotic mechanism of naringenin using MTT assay, DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation, change in mitochondrial membrane potential, cell cycle kinetics and caspase-3 as biomarkers and to investigate the ability to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) initiating apoptotic cascade in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. Results showed that naringenin exposure significantly reduced the cell viability of A431 cells (p<0.01) with a concomitant increase in nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation in a dose dependent manner. The intracellular ROS generation assay showed statistically significant (p<0.001) dose-related increment in ROS production for naringenin. It also caused naringenin-mediated epidermoid carcinoma apoptosis by inducing mitochondrial depolarization. Cell cycle study showed that naringenin induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase of cell cycle and caspase-3 analysis revealed a dose dependent increment in caspase-3 activity which led to cell apoptosis. This study confirms the efficacy of naringenin that lead to cell death in epidermoid carcinoma cells via inducing ROS generation, mitochondrial depolarization, nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation, cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and caspase-3 activation

Correction: Shoaib et al. Neuroprotective Effects of Dried Tubers of <i>Aconitum napellus</i>. <i>Plants</i> 2020, <i>9</i>, 356

We are sorry to report that some images in Figure 1 reported in our recently published paper [...