Sains Malaysiana 42(7)(2013): 927–935

In Vitro Cytotoxic and Antiproliferative Effects of Portulaca oleracea L. Methanol Extract on Breast, Cervical, Colon and Nasopharyngeal Cancerous Cell Lines

(Sitotosik In Vitro dan Kesan Perencatan Proliferatif oleh Portulaca oleracea L. Pati Metanol Terhadap Sel Kanser Payudara, Serviks, Kolon dan Nasofarinks)

Gek Choo Sarah Tan, Kar Mun Wong, Gui Qi Pearle-Wong, Siau Li Yeo & Beow Chin Yiap

Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, International Medical University

57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Swee Keong Yeap

Institute of Bioscience, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor D.E. Malaysia

Hueh Zan Chong*

Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

International Medical University, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 2 April 2012/Accepted: 6 December 2012

ABSTRACT

Portulaca oleracea is a ubiquitous garden weed that has been traditionally used as antidiabetic and anti-inflammation agent. However, the potential anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects of Portulaca oleracea towards cancerous cells are still unclear. Human hormone dependent breast cancer MCF-7 cell, colon cancer HT-29, cervical cancer Hela cell and nasopharyngeal cancer CNE-1 cell were used in this study. P. oleracea was extracted using methanol and the cytotoxicity against various cancerous cell lines was evaluated using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide solution (MTT) assay. The antiproliferation effect and cell cycle arrest were assessed using BrdU proliferation assay and flow cytometry cell cycle RNase/PI analysis, respectively. Portulaca oleracea methanol extract was able to reduce viability of all the tested cancerous cell lines. However, IC₅₀ was only observed in CNE-1 cell (92 μg/mL). BrdU incorporation assay indicated anti-proliferation of Portulaca oleracea treated MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. A significant increase in the sub G0/G1cell population phase observed by cell cycle analysis indicates the occurrence of apoptotic events. In conclusion, Portulaca oleracea showed anti-proliferative effect on CNE-1, HeLa and HT-29 and DNA fragmentation on MCF-7 cells.

Keywords: BrdU; cell cycle; MCF-7; Portulaca oleracea

ABSTRAK

Portulaca oleracea adalah sejenis rumpai taman yang digunakan secara tradisi sebagai agen antidiabetik dan anti-keradangan. Walau bagaimanapun, kesan potensi anti-proliferatif dan sitotosik Portulaca oleracea terhadap sel-sel kanser masih tidak jelas. Sel kanser payudara yang bergantung kepada hormon MCF-7, sel kanser kolon HT-29, sel kanser serviks Hela dan sel kanser nasofarinks CNE-1 telah digunakan dalam kajian ini. Portulaca oleracea telah diekstrak dengan metanol dan kesan sitotosiknya terhadap pelbagai jenis kanser telah dikaji menggunakan pengasaian 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide solution (MTT). Kesan anti-proliferatif dan tangkapan kitaran sel telah dinilai melalui pengasaian BrdU dan analisis kitaran sel Rnase/PI menggunakan aliran sitometri. Metanol ekstrak Portulaca oleracea dapat mengurangkan kebolehhidupan untuk kesemua sel kanser yang diuji. Akan tetapi, IC50 hanya dapat diperoleh pada sel CNE-1 (92 μg/mL). Pengasaian BrdU menunjukkan kesan anti-percambahan oleh Portulaca oleracea terhadap sel MCF-7 adalah bergantung kepada kepekatan. Peningkatan sel populasi yang ketara pada fasa G0/G1 telah didapati pada analisis kitaran sel menandakan berlakunya apoptosis. Kesimpulannya, Portulaca oleracea menunjukkan kesan anti-proliferatif terhadap sel CNE-1, Hela dan HT-29 dan kesan DNA fragmentasi terhadap sel MCF-7.

Kata kunci: BrdU; kitaran sel; MCF-7; Portulaca oleracea

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*Corresponding author; email: meganjournal@gmail.com