Journal Article

In vitro anticancer properties of selected Eucalyptus species

Bhuyan, Deep Jyoti, Sakoff, Jennette, Predebon, Melanie, Vuong, Quan V., Scarlett, Christopher J., Bond, Danielle R., Chalmers, Anita C., van Altena, Ian A., Bowyer, Michael C.

2017

Overview

In spite of the recent advancements in oncology, the overall survival rate for pancreatic cancer has not improved over the last five decades. Eucalypts have been linked with cytotoxic and anticancer properties in various studies; however, there is very little scientific evidence that supports the direct role of eucalypts in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This study assessed the anticancer properties of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of four Eucalyptus species using an MTT assay. The most promising extracts were further evaluated using a CCK-8 assay. Apoptotic studies were performed using a caspase 3/7 assay in MIA PaCa-2 cells. The aqueous extract of Eucalyptus microcorys leaf and the ethanolic extract of Eucalyptus microcorys fruit inhibited the growth of glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, lung and pancreatic cancer cells by more than 80% at 100 μg/mL. The E. microcorys and Eucalyptus saligna extracts showed lower GI50 values than the ethanolic Eucalyptus robusta extract in MIA PaCa-2 cells. Aqueous E. microcorys leaf and fruit extracts at 100 μg/mL exerted significantly higher cell growth inhibition in MIA PaCa-2 cells than other extracts (p < 0.05). Statistically similar IC50 values (p > 0.05) were observed in aqueous E. microcorys leaf (86.05 ± 4.75 μg/mL) and fruit (64.66 ± 15.97 μg/mL) and ethanolic E. microcorys leaf (79.30 ± 29.45 μg/mL) extracts in MIA PaCa-2 cells using the CCK-8 assay. Caspase 3/7-mediated apoptosis and morphological changes of cells were also witnessed in MIA PaCa-2 cells after 24 h of treatment with the extracts. This study highlighted the significance of E. microcorys as an important source of phytochemicals with efficacy against pancreatic cancer cells. Further studies are warranted to purify and structurally identify individual compounds and elucidate their mechanisms of action for the development of more potent and specific chemotherapeutic agents for pancreatic cancer.

• Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media LLC,Springer US,Society for In Vitro Biology
• Subject: Animal Genetics and Genomics / Anticancer properties / antineoplastic activity / Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology / Antioxidants / Apoptosis / Assaying / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Cancer therapies / Caspase-3 / caspases / Cell Biology / Cell Culture / Cell cycle / Cell growth / CELL GROWTH/DIFFERENTIATION/APOPTOSIS / Cell Line, Tumor / Cell Proliferation - drug effects / Cell Shape - drug effects / Cell Survival - drug effects / Chemotherapy / Cholecystokinin / Cytotoxicity / Deoxycytidine - analogs & derivatives / Deoxycytidine - pharmacology / Developmental Biology / drug therapy / Eucalyptus / Eucalyptus - chemistry / Eucalyptus microcorys / Eucalyptus robusta / Eucalyptus saligna / Flowers & plants / fruit extracts / Fruits / Glioblastoma / growth retardation / Humans / in vitro studies / Inhibitory Concentration 50 / Leaves / Life Sciences / Lung cancer / mechanism of action / Medical prognosis / neoplasm cells / Neuroblastoma / Pancreatic cancer / pancreatic neoplasms / Phytochemicals / phytopharmaceuticals / Plant Extracts - pharmacology / Stem Cells / Studies / Survival / survival rate