Contributions
Abstract: PB1622
Type: Publication Only
Background
Since the time immemorial, medicinal herbs have been broadly used as primary source for treatment of cancer, either applied individually or as adjuvant with conventional treatments. Nowadays, a remarkable attention has been drawn towards the effective therapeutic characteristic of natural products targeting cancerous cells.
Aims
This study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effect of Artemisia annua extract (AAE), a medicinal Chinese herb alone and in combination with a microtubule binding agent used in ALL treatment, vincristine (VCR), in B-Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Nalm-6 and Reh cells.
Methods
Cytotoxic activity of AAE and VCR was determined using MTT assay in Nalm-6 and Reh cell lines and synergism was evaluated using the CompuSyn software. Caspase 3 activity and Annexin/PI staining was performed for apoptosis assessment. The expression level of apoptosis-related genes, caspase 3, Bax and Bcl-2 were determined using real time-PCR. One-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey multiple comparisons were used for statistical analysis.
Results
We found that treatment of the leukemic cells with increasing concentrations of this extract reduced (30 and 40 µg/ml) the viability and growth of the cells through caspase 3-dependent apoptosis after 48 h. Interestingly, the growth inhibitory activity of the extract after 48 h was more potentiated when combined with 0.1 and 1 nM (VCR), compared with either agent alone. Moreover, real-time PCR analysis showed that VCR-induced apoptosis was augmented by AAE through alteration of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression, as the most substantial indicators of apoptosis.
Conclusion
Overall, owing to nontoxic nature of AAE and its explicit role in enhancing VCR effectiveness, our study provides a new insight into the development of novel combinatorial approach in ALL using natural herbs; however, more investigation, including clinical trial, is warranted to indicate the effectiveness of this extract in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Session topic: 1. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia – Biology & Translational Research
Keyword(s): Apoptosis, Cytotoxicity, Gene expression, Leukemia
Abstract: PB1622
Type: Publication Only
Background
Since the time immemorial, medicinal herbs have been broadly used as primary source for treatment of cancer, either applied individually or as adjuvant with conventional treatments. Nowadays, a remarkable attention has been drawn towards the effective therapeutic characteristic of natural products targeting cancerous cells.
Aims
This study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effect of Artemisia annua extract (AAE), a medicinal Chinese herb alone and in combination with a microtubule binding agent used in ALL treatment, vincristine (VCR), in B-Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Nalm-6 and Reh cells.
Methods
Cytotoxic activity of AAE and VCR was determined using MTT assay in Nalm-6 and Reh cell lines and synergism was evaluated using the CompuSyn software. Caspase 3 activity and Annexin/PI staining was performed for apoptosis assessment. The expression level of apoptosis-related genes, caspase 3, Bax and Bcl-2 were determined using real time-PCR. One-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey multiple comparisons were used for statistical analysis.
Results
We found that treatment of the leukemic cells with increasing concentrations of this extract reduced (30 and 40 µg/ml) the viability and growth of the cells through caspase 3-dependent apoptosis after 48 h. Interestingly, the growth inhibitory activity of the extract after 48 h was more potentiated when combined with 0.1 and 1 nM (VCR), compared with either agent alone. Moreover, real-time PCR analysis showed that VCR-induced apoptosis was augmented by AAE through alteration of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression, as the most substantial indicators of apoptosis.
Conclusion
Overall, owing to nontoxic nature of AAE and its explicit role in enhancing VCR effectiveness, our study provides a new insight into the development of novel combinatorial approach in ALL using natural herbs; however, more investigation, including clinical trial, is warranted to indicate the effectiveness of this extract in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Session topic: 1. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia – Biology & Translational Research
Keyword(s): Apoptosis, Cytotoxicity, Gene expression, Leukemia