Antiproliferative activity of aqueous and polyphenol-rich extracts of Larrea divaricata Cav. on a melanoma cell line

Abstract

Most of the deaths from skin cancer are caused by melanoma, a malignancy in which STAT3 plays a crucial role. The inhibition of STAT3 is considered a potential target to induce cell death, tumor regression and metastasis inhibition. The objective of this work was to evaluate the activity of the aqueous extract of Larrea divaricata (Aq), a fraction rich in polyphenols (EA),and the isolated compound quercetin-3-methyl ether (Q3ME) on B16F10 melanoma cells. The effects of Aq, EA and Q3ME were assessed on B16F10 cells by determining the proliferation, viability, apoptosis induction and the expression and phosphorylation of STAT3. The phytochemical composition of the extracts was determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Aq, EA and Q3ME presented antiproliferative activity on B6F10 cells through p-STAT3 inhibition and early and late apoptosis induction (EC₅₀ EA= ≤0.1 µg/ml; Aq= 316 ± 30 µg/ml; Q3ME= <0.1 µg/ml). L. divaricata could be considered for the development of adjuvant phytotherapies in melanoma treatment.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Larrea divaricata Cav.
• melanoma B16F10 cell line
• antiproliferative activity
• STAT3
• apoptosis

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by PIP 00067 CONICET and UBACYT from Buenos Aires University (20020130100686BA).