Corchorus olitorius (jute) extract induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity on human multiple myeloma cells (ARH-77)

Abstract

Context: Corchorus olitorius L. (Malvaceae) has industrial importance in world jute production and is a widely cultivated and consumed crop in Cyprus and in some Arabic countries.

Objective: The present study investigated cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of leaf extracts (LE) and seed extracts (SE) of the C. olitorius on the multiple myeloma-derived ARH-77 cells. The extracts were also evaluated for their total phenol content (TPC) and free radical scavenging activity (FRSA).

Materials and methods: C. olitorius was collected from Nicosia, Cyprus. TPC and FRSA were measured by Folin–Ciocalteu and DPPH free radical methods, respectively. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT assay (4–2048 µg/mL range), and DNA damage (at IC₅₀ and ½IC₅₀) was measured by the comet assay.

Results and discussion: The LE had significantly higher total phenol (78 mg GAE/g extract) than the SE (2 mg GAE/g extract) with significantly higher FRSA (IC₅₀ LE: 23 µg/mL and IC₅₀ SE: 10 401 µg/mL). Both LE and SE exerted cytotoxic effects on cells after 48 h. The IC₅₀ of SE (17 µg/mL) was lower than LE (151 µg/mL), which demonstrates its higher cytotoxicity on cells. The extracts were applied at 150 and 75 µg/mL for LE and at 17 and 8.5 µg/mL for SE, and the results of the comet assay revealed that the extracts induced genotoxic damage on ARH-77 cells. In both 48 h leaf and seed extract treatments, genotoxic damage significantly increased with increasing concentrations at relevant cytotoxic concentrations.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the high cytotoxic potential of C. olitorius SE and the genotoxic potential of LE and SE.

• Antiproliferative activity
• DNA damage
• leaf
• seed

Acknowledgements

The Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University is greatly acknowledged for lyophilization process. Dr. Evren Cabi and Dr. Meltem Demirel Kars are greatly acknowledged for their contributions. This study was approved by Baskent University Institutional Review Board (Project no: DA11/29).