Abstract 3827: Schinus terebinthifolius extracts impair migration of BT549 triple negative breast cancer cells in vitro
Authors: Tapanes-Castillo Alexis , Santi Mariacira Di , Sousa Abel , Brown Jonathan M. , Rodriguez Paola M. Gonzalez , Leal Thiago P. , Saladrigas Leticia , Trokhymchuk Vadym , Chumpitaz Leonardo M. Soto , Peterson Andrea , Gutierrez Susana , Petit Rolando J. , Planchart Carlos , Corro Christian Del , Ramos Daniela A. , Nazaire Valeria , Mondesire Sean , Pina Maria 
Published: April 2023

Bark extracts, derived from the Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolius) were tested on BT549 triple negative breast cancer cells, a model system for invasive, metastatic cancers. Crude extracts, prepared with a 50% ethanol-50% water solvent, were investigated for cytotoxicity and effects on cell migration in vitro. Extract-treated cells exhibited statistically significant slower migration velocities than untreated control cells. Crude bark extracts, screened at a concentration of 3.15mg/mL in five independent experiments, produced an approximate 80% decrease in average migration velocity (p&lt;0.05 in every experiment). Three independent tetrazolium based MTT cytotoxicity experiments confirmed that cells exposed to the same 3.15 mg/mL crude extract concentrations displayed similar viability as untreated control cells. Interestingly, these data suggest the Brazilian peppertree bark extract harbors bioactivity that impairs BT549 cell migration without cytotoxic side effects. Current experiments aim to discover which bioactive molecules, present in the crude extract, impede cancer cell migration. Silica-based column chromatography was used to separate the crude extract into fractions of increasing polarity. A wet method, which commenced with hexane, followed by dichloromethane, methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, and butanol, was employed. Fractions which retained anti-migratory activity were identified. Gas chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) was performed on crude extracts, samples with strong anti-migratory activity, and samples with weak anti-migratory activity, solubilized with ethanol, methanol, and acetonitrile. Data from two independent, complete sets of experiments, involving column chromatography, cellular assays with fractionated extracts, and GCMS, replicated results. Compounds that were unique to specific samples, as well as compounds that were found in multiples samples were identified. Rstudio software was utilized to organize and visualize data. This work lays down the preliminary foundation for future experiments testing specific purified forms of candidate molecules present in Brazilian peppertree bark extracts for the ability to limit BT549 cancer cell migration in vitro. Furthermore, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry experiments are underway to determine cellular signaling pathways targeted by the extract. Funding was provided by St. Thomas University’s Summer Research Institute and U.S. Dept. of Education STEM grants P03C110190, P031C160161, and P031C210035.

Citation Format: Alexis Tapanes-Castillo, Mariacira Di Santi, Abel Sousa, Jonathan M. Brown, Paola M. Gonzalez Rodriguez, Thiago P. Leal, Leticia Saladrigas, Vadym Trokhymchuk, Leonardo M. Soto Chumpitaz, Andrea Peterson, Susana Gutierrez, Rolando J. Petit, Carlos Planchart, Christian Del Corro, Daniela A. Ramos, Valeria Nazaire, Sean Mondesire, Maria Pina. Schinus terebinthifolius extracts impair migration of BT549 triple negative breast cancer cells in vitro. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 3827.