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Cytotoxic and cytostatic effects of four Annonaceae plants on human cancer cell lines

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Abstract

Several species of the Annonaceae plants have been used as complementary medicine for cancer-associated illnesses in some ethnic groups of northern Thailand. This study investigated the cytotoxic and cytostatic activity of methanolic extracts derived from the stems of these plants, including Uvaria longipes (Craib) L.L.Zhou, Y.C.F.Su & R.M.K.Saunders, Artabotrys burmanicus A.DC, Marsypopetalum modestum (Pierre) B.Xue & R.M.K.Saunders, and Dasymaschalon sp. Cell death induction of seven human cancer cell lines and cell cycle analyses were assessed by Annexin V and/or propidium iodide (PI) staining and analyzed by flow cytometry. Treatment of cancer cell lines with the extract of four Annonaceae plants resulted in various cytotoxic activities depending on cell type. The extract of U. longipes exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity capable of inducing cell death of several cancer cell lines, particularly against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG2 and Hep3B). This extract was capable of inducing cell cycle arrest at the SubG1 phase. Phytochemical screening of all the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, sterols, tannins, anthraquinone glycoside, coumarin, and flavonoids. Determination of active compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography standards revealed bullatacin and asiminecin in all the extracts. The extract of Annonaceae stem or its compounds may provide an opportunity for the development of new therapies against cancer.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their gratitude to Kritsadee Rattanathammethee and Narumon Techawong for their technical assistance, and to Dr. Paul Kowal and to “Hi-Tech Outsourcing Services” for editing the manuscript.

Funding

This study was supported by Chiang Mai University Research Group Grant (JW) and the Office of the Higher Education Commission/Thailand Research Fund (TRF) MRG5680080 (PL). The funding sources had no role in the study design: collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; writing of the report; and decision to submit the article for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Center of Excellence in Bioresources for Agriculture, Industry and Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50202, Thailand

    Kitti Pumiputavon, Tanawat Chaowasku, Maslin Osathanunkul & Pathrapol Lithanatudom

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50202, Thailand

    Chalermpong Saenjum

  3. School of Pharmacy, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160, Thailand

    Boonsong Wungsintaweekul

  4. Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50202, Thailand

    Kriangkrai Chawansuntati & Jiraprapa Wipasa

Authors
  1. Kitti Pumiputavon
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  2. Tanawat Chaowasku
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  3. Chalermpong Saenjum
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  4. Maslin Osathanunkul
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  5. Boonsong Wungsintaweekul
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  6. Kriangkrai Chawansuntati
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  7. Pathrapol Lithanatudom
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  8. Jiraprapa Wipasa
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Correspondence to Pathrapol Lithanatudom or Jiraprapa Wipasa.

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Editor: Tetsuji Okamoto

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Pumiputavon, K., Chaowasku, T., Saenjum, C. et al. Cytotoxic and cytostatic effects of four Annonaceae plants on human cancer cell lines. In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.-Animal 55, 723–732 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11626-019-00393-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11626-019-00393-w

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