Antiproliferative and Apoptosis Induction Potential of the Methanolic Leaf Extract of Holarrhena floribunda (G. Don)
Authors: O E Ekpo
M Meyer
A A Hussein
D C Hiss
J A Badmus
Journal: Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2015)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Holarrhena floribunda; cancer chemopreventive potential; antiproliferative; apoptosis induction; methanolic leaf extracts
Affiliations: Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, New Life Sciences Building, Robert Sobukwe Road, Private Bag Box X17, Bellville, Cape Town 7535, South Africa., Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Chemical Sciences Building, Robert Sobukwe Road, Private Bag Box X17, Bellville, Cape Town 7535, South Africa., Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, New Life Sciences Building, Robert Sobukwe Road, Private Bag Box X17, Bellville, Cape Town 7535, South Africa.

Abstract:  Natural plant products with potent growth inhibition and apoptosis induction properties are extensively being investigated for their cancer chemopreventive potential. Holarrhena floribunda (HF) is used in a wide range of traditional medicine practices. The present study investigated the antiproliferative and apoptosis induction potential of methanolic leaf extracts of HF against breast (MCF-7), colorectal (HT-29), and cervical (HeLa) cancer cells relative to normal KMST-6 fibroblasts. The MTT assay in conjunction with the trypan blue dye exclusion and clonogenic assays were used to determine the effects of the extracts on the cells. Caspase activities were assayed with Caspase-Glo 3/7 and Caspase-9 kits. Apoptosis induction was monitored by flow cytometry using the APOPercentage and Annexin V-FITC kits. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using the fluorogenic molecular probe 5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate acetyl ester and cell cycle arrest was detected with propidium iodide. Dose-response analyses of the extract showed greater sensitivity in cancer cell lines than in fibroblast controls. Induction of apoptosis, ROS, and cell cycle arrest were time- and dose-dependent for the cancer cell lines studied. These findings provide a basis for further studies on the isolation, characterization, and mechanistic evaluation of the bioactive compounds responsible for the antiproliferative activity of the plant extract. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 4 appears to include a repeated image. ***  , 
 I appreciate the journal following up on this. Published 21 Dec 2020 In the article titled u201cAntiproliferative and Apoptosis Induction Potential of the Methanolic Leaf Extract of Holarrhena floribunda (G. Don)u201d, there was figure duplication [1]. As raised on PubPeer [2], Figure 4 KMST-6 control and KMST-6 200u2009u03bcg mL are the same. The authors could not find the original images and confirmed that the photomicrographs were directly copied into a Microsoft Word document as their record of the analysis. One or both of the photomicrographs was used in error and they should be disregarded. However, the raw data (Supplementary Materials) reflect significant differences between KMST-6 colony counts for the control and the 200u2009u03bcg ml treatment, supporting the results in the article. ,