Cytostatic effect of extracts from Heracleum Sosnowskyi
Authors: Lukashou R. I. , Gurina N. S. , Tsiarletskaya V. A. , Laurouski A. V. , Doroshenko T. M. , Portyanko A. S. , Klemper A. V. , Povydysh M. N. 
Published: December 2024

Introduction. The search for new antitumor agents among plants of local flora is one of the options for expanding the existing list of chemotherapeutic drugs. A promising source of such agents may be an invasive and weedy species for the territory of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation – Heracleum Sosnowskyi. This species contains coumarins, for which antitumor properties have been established, so Heracleum Sosnowskyi can be considered a promising raw material source of these biologically active substances.

Aim. To analyze the cytostatic effect of extracts from the herb, inflorescences and roots of Heracleum Sosnowskyi on tumor cell cultures in vitro.

Materials and methods. The object of the study was air-dried herbs and inflorescences harvested during the flowering period and roots harvested during the dying off period of the above-ground part of Heracleum Sosnowskyi. Aqueous-alcoholic extracts were obtained, from which the solvent was distilled off, the resulting dry residue was dissolved in phosphate-salt buffer pH 7.4. Identification and quantification of coumarins were carried out by high performance liquid chromatography. Antitumor (cytostatic) effect in vitro was studied on the following cell cultures: lung carcinoma A549, prostate adenocarcinoma PC-3, skin melanoma MeWo, cervical adenocarcinoma Hela and immortalized foreskin fibroblasts BjhTERT. Cell viability was assessed under MTT test conditions on a flatbed spectrophotometer. Metabolic activity was monitored using 4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2-yl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide. Negative control (buffer), cell growth control, positive control (doxorubicin) and test samples were formed.

Results and discussion. Extracts from the herb of Heracleum Sosnowskyi showed a statistically significant cytostatic effect on the tumor cell lines A549, PC-3, cervical adenocarcinoma Hela and MeWo. Extracts from roots and inflorescences showed a statistically significant cytostatic effect on the cell lines Hela and MeWo. The cytostatic effect depended on the concentration of coumarins in terms of xanthotoxin. Extracts from the herb had a cytostatic effect on normal BjhTERT cells; roots and inflorescences did not significantly affect their growth. The cytostatic effect of extracts from Heracleum Sosnowskyi herb on A549 and PC-3 cell lines was superior to the effect of doxorubicin, on MeWo and BjhTERT cell lines it was comparable to that of doxorubicin. When comparing semi-effective concentrations, it was found that all studied extracts caused growth suppression at lower concentrations, i.e. they had higher activity compared to doxorubicin. Extracts from herb more strongly inhibit the growth of A549 cells; Extracts from roots and inflorescences more strongly inhibit the growth of Hela cells.

Conclusion. Herb, roots and inflorescences of Heracleum Sosnowskyi have a pronounced cytostatic effect in vitro, which makes it expedient to further study this plant within the framework of coumarins isolation and establishment of mechanisms of influence on the growth of tumor cells in comparison with normal cells.