Mentha aquatica L. aerial parts: in vitro anti-proliferative evaluation on human tumour and non-tumour cell lines

Abstract

Bearing in mind the several medicinal properties of Mentha genus, this work aimed to evaluate the anti-proliferative potential of the ethanolic extract (EE) and fractions from M. aquatica L aerial parts. Using the anti-proliferative protocol developed by the NCI/USA, four fractions (F2 – F4 and F6) obtained from EE showed promising anti-proliferative profile against a panel of human tumor and non-tumor cell lines. After 24-h exposure, F2 (0.25 µg/mL) showed potent and irreversible anti-proliferative effect without inducing cell cycle arrest in both NCI-H460 and MCF-7 cells, without (anti) estrogenic activity. These effects were lost after storage of F2 diluted in dimethyl sulfoxide at −80 °C during 2 weeks. Analysis by gas chromatography coupled to mass detection evidenced some chemical changes induced by F2 storage in solution. The present study demonstrated the anti-proliferative effect of M. aquatica. Further studies are necessary to determine better storage conditions to enhance F2 stability.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Mentha aquatica L
• anti-proliferative effect
• clonogenic cell assay
• E-screen
• terpenoids
• steroids
• flow cytometry

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, Brazil, Financing Code 001) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil, grant numbers # 132448/2016-5, # 132207/2017-6, # 429463/2018-9). The authors A.L.T.G.R., M.A.F., and J.E.C. thank CNPq for research productivity fellowship. The authors also thank the Chemical, Biological, and Agricultural Pluridisciplinary Research Center (CPQBA/Unicamp) for the laboratory infrastructure.