Leaf extracts from Moricandia arvensis promote antiproliferation of human cancer cells, induce apoptosis, and enhance antioxidant activity

Abstract

The in vitro antiproliferative, apoptotic, and antioxidant activities from leaf extracts of Moricandia arvensis, which are used in traditional cooking and medicines, were investigated. The MTT assay revealed that only TOF (total oligomer flavonoids), ethyl acetate (EA), chloroform (Chl), and petroleum ether (PE) extracts inhibited the proliferation of K562 cells. Apoptosis plays a very important role in the treatment of cancer by promoting the apoptosis of cancer cells and limiting the concurrent death of normal cells. Thus, the possible effects of M. arvensis extracts on the induction of apoptosis in human leukemic cells (K562 cells) were investigated. The electrophoretic analysis of DNA fragmentation confirms that TOF, Chl, PE, and EA extracts provoke DNA fragmentation. Using the lipid peroxidation inhibitory assay, the antioxidant capacity of M. arvensis extracts was evaluated by the ability of each extract to inhibit malondialdehyde formation. It was revealed that EA and TOF extracts are the most active in scavenging the hydroxyl radicals.

Keywords::

• Antioxidant
• apoptosis
• antiproliferative
• Moricandia arvensis
• K562 cells

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Rhônes-Alpes region in France, the Ministère Français des Affaires Etrangères (Action Intégrée de Coopération Inter universitaire Franco- Tunisienne, MIRA), and to the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology in Tunisia for the financial assistance of this study.

Declaration of interest: No conflict of interest is declared.