Antioxidant rich Morus alba leaf extract induces apoptosis in human colon and breast cancer cells by the downregulation of nitric oxide produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase

Nutr Cancer. 2013;65(2):305-10. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2013.748924.

Abstract

Morus species had been used widely in the traditional medicines for various diseases. In this study we report the in vitro antiproliferative activity of the methanol extract of Morus alba. The extract is capable of inducing cytotoxicity in human colon cancer (HCT-15) cells (IC(50) = 13.8 μg/ml) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells (IC(50) = 9.2 μg/ml), resulted in significant morphological changes of the cells, fragmentation of DNA, and caspase-3 activation- characteristics of apoptosis. It downregulated the amount of nitric oxide (NO) produced as a result of inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) activation. The HPLC analysis of the extract showed epicatechin (20%), myricetin (10%), quercetin hydrate (12%), luteolin (12%), and kaempferol (6%) as the major active components and ascorbic acid, gallic acid, pelargonidine, and p-coumaric acid as the minor components. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing the downregulation of iNOS and induction of apoptosis by M. alba extract.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Flavonoids / analysis
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Kaempferols / analysis
  • Morus / chemistry*
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism*
  • Plant Extracts / analysis
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Antioxidants
  • Flavonoids
  • Kaempferols
  • Plant Extracts
  • Nitric Oxide
  • kaempferol
  • myricetin
  • NOS2 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Caspase 3