Cytotoxic effect and induction of apoptosis in human cervical cancer cells by a wood extract from Prosopis laevigata

Abstract

Cervical cancer ranks fourth in incidence among women worldwide. Cisplatin is currently the first-line drug of treatment for cervical cancer; however, it causes serious adverse effects. Therefore, it is crucial to explore natural products for cervical cancer treatment. Prosopis laevigata is a medicinal plant frequently used for ophthalmological and gastrointestinal infections. In this study, we used the MTT cell viability assay to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of a wood extract from Prosopis laevigata (Extract T7) in SiHa, HeLa, Ca Ski, and C-33 A cancer cell lines. Phosphatidylserine translocation and cell cycle evaluations were performed to determine the mechanism of cellular death. The extract's safety was evaluated using the Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium strains, in vivo acute toxicity assay, and repeated dose toxicity assay in mice. We also identified phenolic compounds of Extract T7 through liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Naringin, catechin, and eriodictyol demonstrated a higher concentration in Extract T7. Additionally, Extract T7 exhibited a cytotoxic effect against cervical cancer cells, where C-33 A was the most sensitive (IC₅₀= 22.58 ± 1.10 µg/mL and 14.26 ± 1.11 µg/mL at 24 h and 48 h respectively). Extract T7 induced death by apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G₂ phase in C-33 A. Extract T7 was not mutagenic. No toxicological effects were observed during acute toxicity and repeated dose toxicity for 28 days. Therefore, further evaluations of Extract T7 should be conducted to identify the complete mechanism of action for potential anti-tumoral activity and safety before conducting studies in animal models.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Phenolic compounds
• cell viability
• complementary and alternative medicine
• Fabaceae
• toxicity

Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to PhD. Socorro González-Elizondo, botanist of CIIDIR-DGO herbarium for specimen identification and to Biol. Tomás Ernesto Villamar-Duque of Facultad de Estudios Superiores-Iztacala of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México for animal care. Jorge Ibarra-Berumen is grateful to Consejo Nacional de Ciencia de Tecnología (CONACyT) for the scholarship granted to obtain degree of PhD in Biotechnology (No. 738299) in the Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias en Biotecnología. The authors are very grateful for the financial support from SIP IPN México (20220543). Martha Rosales-Castro and Cynthia Ordaz-Pichardo received fellowships from Comisión de Operación y Fomento de Actividades Académicas del IPN (COFAA) and Estímulo de Desempeño de los Investigadores del IPN (EDI).

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.