Refine your search
Collections
Co-Authors
Journals
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All
Cuschieri, A.
- Morphological Effects Induced by Cucurbitacin E on Ovarian Cancer Cells In vitro
Abstract Views :546 |
PDF Views:435
Authors
Source
Journal of Natural Remedies, Vol 5, No 1 (2005), Pagination: 70-74Abstract
Objective: To study the effects of Cucurbitacin E, extracted from Ecballium elaterium L. A.Rich. on ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro. Materials and methods: Human ovarian cancer cells (OV_95_CC3) and human lymphocytes were treated with Cucurbitacin E (CuE), a tetracyclic triterpenoid. Morphological changes were examined under the microscope, using the Papanicolau staining procedure, after one and twenty-four hours incubation. Results: Marked effects were observed in treated ovarian cancer cells. Reversible budding of cells and thread formation were observed in previous studies. However, in the present study, cells treated with CuE demonstrated more dramatic changes, which were irreversible and more pronounced after twenty-four hours. These changes were not observed in untreated ovarian cells and normal lymphocytes treated with the same compound. Conclusion: The results obtained indicate that Cucurbitacin E is toxic to ovarian cancer cells but not to normal peripheral lymphocytes.Keywords
Ecballium elaterium L., Cucurbitacin E, Ovarian Cancer, Lymphocytes, MorphologyFull Text
- Cytotoxicity of Cucurbitacin E Extracted from Ecballium elaterium and Anticancer Agents in Vitro
Abstract Views :477 |
PDF Views:666
Authors
Source
Journal of Natural Remedies, Vol 4, No 2 (2004), Pagination: 137-144Abstract
Objective: The objective of this present investigation was to determine the effects of Cucurbitacin E (CuE) extracted from Ecballium elaterium A.Rich., Fam. Cucurbitaceae, on three cancer cell lines (breast, prostate and melanoma) and a normal transformed cell line (fibroblasts), compared to other cytotoxic agents. Methods: Cytotoxicity was assessed by an array of assays including total and viable count determinations, lactate dehydrogenase enzyme release, morphological changes, effects on mitochondrial metabolism, agarose gel electrophoresis for apoptotic changes, median inhibitory concentration determination and interaction studies. Results: CuE exhibited a marked effect on prostate adenocarcinoma cells at a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 9.35 nM and moderate effects on melanoma and breast carcinoma cells (IC50 = 0.87 and 1.95 µM, respectively). Parameters that showed a reduction in cell viability were prominent with the compound, as compared to the controls. Morphologically, the cancer cells exhibited nuclear and cytoplasmic (N/C) changes such as condensation of chromatin, an increase in the N/C ratio, and rounding up of the cytoplasm. Surface blebbing and morphological signs of apoptosis occurred in all cancer cell types. In the agarose-gel electrophoresis analysis, DNA ladder characteristic of apoptosis, was exhibited by the CuE treatment on both prostate and breast cancer cell lines, as for tamoxifen and mesterolone, respectively. Negligible cytotoxic effects were observed on normal fibroblasts as compared to the control. Conclusion: Owing to its chemical structure, CuE can be used as a lead drug in the development of cytotoxic agents with low toxicity on normal cells.Keywords
Ecballium elaterium, Cucurbitacin E, Cell Proliferation, Cytotoxicity, ApoptosisFull Text