Edible Tuber Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Extract Induces Apoptosis and Suppresses Migration of Breast Cancer Cells.

Medicinal plants offer enormous possibilities in the quest of novel bioactive formulation for cancer therapy. Here, we studied the anticancer efficacy of the extract of edible tuber Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) (APTE) against estrogen positive MCF-7 and triple negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. APTE showed significant cytotoxic activity in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. The effect of APTE on metastatic parameters e.g., migration, adhesion, and invasion in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were studied using wound healing, collagen adhesion, and transwell matrigel invasion assays, respectively. APTE significantly reduced migration in both the cell lines, however, its effect on the inhibition of adhesion and invasion was higher in MDA-MB-231 cells. Annexin V-Cy3 staining suggested that APTE induced apoptosis in these cells which was further validated by attenuation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and induction of pro-apoptotic Bax, Caspase-7 expression and cleavage of PARP. High resolution-liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy analysis with bioactive ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of APTE detected several compounds with anticancer activities. Overall, the study described the mechanism of anticancer activity of a common edible tuber A. paeoniifolius and contributes to growing list of naturally occurring chemo-preventive strategies.

Ricinus communis L. fruit extract inhibits migration/invasion, induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells and arrests tumor progression in vivo.

Medicinal plant-based therapies can be important for treatment of cancer owing to high efficiency, low cost and minimal side effects. Here, we report the anti-cancer efficacy of Ricinus communis L. fruit extract (RCFE) using estrogen positive MCF-7 and highly aggressive, triple negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. RCFE induced cytotoxicity in these cells in dose and time-dependent manner. It also demonstrated robust anti-metastatic activity as it significantly inhibited migration, adhesion, invasion and expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 in both cell lines. Further, flow cytometry analysis suggested RCFE-mediated induction of apoptosis in these cells. This was supported by attenuation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, induction of pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase-7 expressions as well as PARP cleavage upon RCFE treatment. RCFE (0.5 mg/Kg body weight) treatment led to significant reduction in tumor volume in 4T1 syngeneic mouse model. HPLC and ESI-MS analysis of active ethyl acetate fraction of RCFE detected four compounds, Ricinine, p-Coumaric acid, Epigallocatechin and Ricinoleic acid. Individually these compounds showed cytotoxic and migration-inhibitory activities. Overall, this study for the first time demonstrates the anti-cancer efficacy of the fruit extract of common castor plant which can be proposed as a potent candidate for the treatment of breast cancer.

Nutritional profile of food yeast Kluyveromyces fragilis biomass grown on whey.

Biomass of food yeast Kluyveromyces fragilis (MTCC 188) grown on deproteinized whey supplemented with 0.8% diammonium hydrogen phosphate and 10 ppm indole-3-acetic acid, had a crude protein content of 37%. The true protein content based on nitrogen fractionation procedure was 28.1%. Total nucleic acid content was 4.82%. This amount does not appear to be toxicologically offensive. Crude fiber, ash, and lipid content of K.fragilis dry cells were found to be 4.9%, 16%, and 7.8%, respectively. Essential fatty acids of both omega-3 and omega-6 series were found present in the fat of the yeast and represented 21.5% of the total fatty acids. All the essential amino acids were present in the proteins of K. fragilis; however, sulfur containing amino acids were found in lower amounts. Calculated protein scores indicate moderate biological value. B vitamins in the biomass were present as expected, but folic acid and pyridoxine were present in high concentration.