Biology and Medicine

Abstract

Antiproliferative effect of hydroethanolic extracts of seeds of Cola verticillata and leaves of Solanum scabrum

Mary-Ann A Mbong1, Gabin KB Azantsa, Cornelia Braicu, Neagoe Ioana, Irimie Alexandru, Laure J Ngondi, Julius E Oben

Hydroethanolic extracts of leaves of Solanum scabrum and seeds of Cola verticillata were analysed for anticancer properties. A MTT assay was done to evaluate their antiproliferative properties after 24 and 48h treatment with varying concentrations. qRT-PCR was used to evaluate the modulation of seven genes involved in apoptosis and angiogenesis after treating cells with 10 and 50µg/ml of extracts of C. verticillata and S. scabrum. IC50s for treatment with S. scabrum were 15.00 and 11.30µg/ml after 24 and 48h treatment respectively. While for C. verticillata, it was 19.83 and 15.30µg/ml for 24 and 48h treated cells respectively. Apoptotic genes (p53, BCL-2, and TNFa) were downregulated by both doses of C. verticillata except for the 10µg/ml dose that led to the upregulation of TNFa. S. scabrum upregulated BCL-2 for both doses, p53 was upregulated by the higher dose while the lower dose did not modulate the expression of p53. TNFa was downregulated by both doses. All selected angiogenic genes (ICAM-1, PDGF, and VEGF) were downregulated by both extracts and at both doses. The DNA repair associated gene (ERCC1) was found to be downregulated by both extracts.