(698.13) Ethanolic Extract of Calotropis procera Exhibits Antitumor Effects on Human Breast and Colon Cancer Cells via Cell Cycle Arrest

Poster Board Number: B108

Eman Abu-Gharbieh (University of Sharjah, University of Sharjah, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research), Khuloud Bajbouj (University of Sharjah, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research), Naglaa Shehab (Cairo University, Dubai Pharmacy College, Cairo University), Salma . Elayoty (Dubai Pharmacy College), Wael Abdel-Rahman (University of Sharjah, University of Sharjah, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research), Yasser Bustanji (University of Sharjah, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research , University of Sharjah), Jithna Sinoj (Sharjah Institute for Medical Research), Waseem El-Huneidi (University of Sharjah, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research , University of Sharjah)

Calotropis procera is an evergreen, perennial shrub of the family Apocynaceae has been used to treat rheumatism, filariasis, and skin disorders, and its leaf has been used to treat jaundice. The flowers’ extract has been used to treat spleen, liver, and stomach problems. Members of the same plant family are reported to exhibit anticancer potential.
Aim
To assess the flavonoid and phenolic constituents of the plant extract, evaluate the potential antitumor activity of C. procera ethanolic extract and investigate the mechanistic pathway using two different cancer cell lines, namely human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), human colorectal cancer (HCT-116) and the cytotoxic effect on a normal human dermal fibroblast (aHDF).
Methods
Total flavonoid and phenolic contents were investigated spectrophotometrically and by HPLC analysis. Cell viability assay, Annexin-V/PI apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis and Western blotting were used to evaluate the effect of C. procera on cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and proteins expression profile of the related altered pathways.
Results
Coumaric acid was found to be the principal constituent in the ethanolic extract. Quercetin and hisperdin were the majour flavonoids. The extract demonstrated potential and effective cytotoxic activity against the cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and HCT-116, with a minor toxic effect on normal cells. The extract significantly induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in both cancer cells. Western blot analysis revealed a significant reduction in G2/M regulators, cdk1 and cyclin B1, and the proliferation marker, survivin, protein levels in the treated cells.
Conclusion
This study highlights evidence of the novel antitumor effect of C. procera in breast and colon cancers by altering the progression of the cell cycle.

The study was funded by the College of Research and Graduate Studies, University of Sharjah (No. 1901090265 /VCGSR)