Anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects of Strychnos nux-vomica root extract on human multiple myeloma cell line - RPMI 8226

Food Chem Toxicol. 2009 Feb;47(2):283-8. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2008.10.027. Epub 2008 Nov 6.

Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematological malignancy with high incidence in the elderly. The currently used chemotherapeutic drugs show severe side effects, dose-limiting toxicity and development of resistance. In search of novel plant derived anti-cancer agents, Strychnos nux-vomica L. (SN) root extract was screened using the human MM-cell line, RPMI 8226. SN-extract exhibited anti-proliferative activity in a dose and time dependent manner. The morphological assessment of SN-extract treated cells showed significant features associated with apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry of cells stained with propidium iodide revealed accumulation of cells at sub-G(0)/G(1) phase. In addition, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential and subsequent leakage of mitochondrial cytochrome c was observed in SN-extract treated myeloma cells. The anti-proliferative and cytotoxic activity could be due to the alkaloids strychnine and brucine, which have been identified by LC-mass spectral analysis of the SN-extract in comparison to the reference standards analyzed under identical conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / drug effects
  • Cell Nucleus / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cytochromes c / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / enzymology
  • Multiple Myeloma / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Roots / chemistry
  • Strychnine / analogs & derivatives
  • Strychnine / analysis
  • Strychnos nux-vomica / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Plant Extracts
  • brucine
  • Cytochromes c
  • Strychnine