| 19027818 |
Rao PS, Ramanadham M, Prasad MN: 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. Epub 2008 Nov 6.
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. |
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