Calotropis gigantea stem bark extract induced apoptosis related to ROS and ATP production in colon cancer cells

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 3;16(8):e0254392. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254392. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Conventional chemotherapeutic agents for colorectal cancer (CRC) cause systemic side effects and eventually become less efficacious owing to the development of drug resistance in cancer cells. Therefore, new therapeutic regimens have focused on the use of natural products. The anticancer activity of several parts of Calotropis gigantea has been reported; however, the effects of its stem bark extract on inhibition of cancer cell proliferation have not yet been examined. In this study, the anticancer activity of C. gigantea stem bark extract, both alone and in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), was evaluated. A crude ethanolic extract was prepared from dry, powdered C. gigantea barks using 95% ethanol. This was then partitioned to obtain dichloromethane (CGDCM), ethyl acetate, and water fractions. Quantitative analysis of the constituent secondary metabolites and calotropin was performed. These fractions exhibited cytotoxicity in HCT116 and HT-29 cells, with CGDCM showing the highest potency in both the cell lines. A combination of CGDCM and 5-FU significantly enhanced the cytotoxic effect. Moreover, the resistance of normal fibroblast, HFF-1, cells to this combination demonstrated its safety in normal cells. The combination significantly enhanced apoptosis through the mitochondria-dependent pathway. Additionally, the combination reduced adenosine triphosphate production and increased the production of reactive oxygen species, demonstrating the mechanisms involved in the induction of apoptosis. Our results suggest that CGDCM is a promising anti-cancer agent and may enhance apoptosis induction by 5-FU in the treatment of CRC, while minimizing toxicity toward healthy cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Calotropis / chemistry*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Plant Bark / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Stems / chemistry*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Adenosine Triphosphate

Grants and funding

SP and PS received grant supported from Thailand Science Research and Innovation, [Grant NO. R2564B007]. TW received the graduate thesis funding from the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand [Grant NO. 61063417]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.