Extracts from Zanthoxylum armatum demonstrate cytotoxic activity on human breast and colorectal cancer cells
By ralphflores // 2019-07-09
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In this study, researchers from COMSATS Institute of Information Technology in Pakistan and the Queen Mary University of London demonstrated the anti-cancer potential of Zanthoxylum armatum (winged prickly ash) using multiple in vitro assays.
  • Z. armatum is used in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and larvicidal properties.
  • To determine its anti-cancer activity, the researchers used methanol extracts and crude saponins from the fruit, bark, and leaves of Z. armatum and tested these on breast (MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7) and colorectal (Caco-2) cancer cell lines. They then assessed these using MTT, neutral red uptake (NRU), and DAPI stain assays.
  • The results of the MTT assay revealed that the methanol extracts from Z. armatum fruit, bark, and leaves have dose-dependent anti-cancer activity. They inhibited the growth of MCF-7, MDA MB-468, and Caco-2 cancer cell lines at doses of 200 micrograms per milliliter (mcg/mL) or higher.
  • Z. armatum saponins also showed anti-cancer activity, mainly against MDA MB-468.
  • Further testing using the NRU assay found that the Z. armatum fruit extract had greater cytotoxicity than Z. armatum bark and leaf extracts.
  • Breast cancer cell lines, on the other hand, were more sensitive to crude saponins from Z. armatum fruit and bark.
In sum, the extract and crude saponins from Z. armatum -- in particular, its fruit -- are potentially cytotoxic to cancer cell lines. Read the full study at this link. Journal Reference: Alam F, Saqib QNU, Waheed A. CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF EXTRACTS AND CRUDE SAPONINS FROM ZANTHOXYLUM ARMATUM DC. AGAINST HUMAN BREAST (MCF-7, MDA-MB-468) AND COLORECTAL (CACO-2) CANCER CELL LINES. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 17 July 2017;17(1). DOI:10.1186/s12906-017-1882-1
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