Abstract
The anticancer potential of Xylopia aethiopica fruit extract (XAFE), and the mechanism of cell death it elicits, was investigated in various cell lines. Treatment with XAFE led to a dose-dependent growth inhibition in most cell lines, with selective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells and particularly the human cervical cancer cell line C-33A. In this study, apoptosis was confirmed by nuclear fragmentation and sub-G(0)/G(1) phase accumulation. The cell cycle was arrested at the G(2)/M phase with a decreased G(0)/G(1) population. A semi-quantitative gene expression study revealed dose-dependent up-regulation of p53 and p21 genes, and an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These results indicate that XAFE could be a potential therapeutic agent against cancer since it inhibits cell proliferation, and induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in C-33A cells.
Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use*
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Apoptosis / drug effects*
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Cell Cycle / drug effects*
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Cell Division / drug effects
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Cell Proliferation / drug effects
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Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / metabolism
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Female
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Fruit
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G2 Phase / drug effects
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Gene Expression / drug effects
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Humans
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
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Phytotherapy*
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Plant Extracts / pharmacology
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Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
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Tumor Protein p73
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Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism
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Up-Regulation
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Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / metabolism
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Xylopia*
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
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CDKN1A protein, human
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Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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Plant Extracts
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Tumor Protein p73
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Tumor Suppressor Proteins