Edible Sword Bean Extract Induces Apoptosis in Cancer Cells In Vitro and Inhibits Ascites and Solid Tumor Development In Vivo

Abstract

Antitumor potential of edible sword bean (Canavalia gladiata (L.)) extract has been evaluated against Daltons lymphoma ascites (DLA) using in vitro and in vivo studies. Methanolic extraction was carried out and in vitro studies were performed against both DLA and A549, lung cancer cell lines. The results revealed that sword bean extract inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis as evidenced by cytotoxic assay, Hoechst 33342 staining and acridine orange/ethidium bromide dual staining. In vivo studies performed on DLA induced solid as well as ascitic tumors models showed administration of sword bean extract (10 mg/kg B.wt.) could significantly inhibit ascitic and solid tumor development in mice. Therefore, our overall results revealed that C. gladiata treatment could significantly inhibit tumor development and induce apoptosis in tumor cells.

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Dr. Rekha A Nair, Director, Regional Cancer Center (RCC) and Dr. S. Kannan, Head, Division of cancer research, RCC for providing valuable support during the study.

Disclosure statement

Authors declare that they have no conflict of interest regarding the publication of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for providing financial support to Prathapan Abeesh in the form of Junior Research Fellowship (DBT/JRF/BET-16/1/2016/AL/37-458) for the study.