Withania somnifera Induces Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Effects on Human T Leukemia Cells
Cancer chemotherapy is characterized by an elevated intrinsic toxicity and the development of drug resistance. Thus, there is a compelling need for new intervention strategies with an improved therapeutic profile. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) represents an innovative anticancer strategy where dying...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2016-05-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/8/5/147 |
| _version_ | 1818000457433350144 |
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| author | Eleonora Turrini Cinzia Calcabrini Piero Sestili Elena Catanzaro Elena de Gianni Anna Rita Diaz Patrizia Hrelia Massimo Tacchini Alessandra Guerrini Barbara Canonico Stefano Papa Giovanni Valdrè Carmela Fimognari |
| author_facet | Eleonora Turrini Cinzia Calcabrini Piero Sestili Elena Catanzaro Elena de Gianni Anna Rita Diaz Patrizia Hrelia Massimo Tacchini Alessandra Guerrini Barbara Canonico Stefano Papa Giovanni Valdrè Carmela Fimognari |
| author_sort | Eleonora Turrini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cancer chemotherapy is characterized by an elevated intrinsic toxicity and the development of drug resistance. Thus, there is a compelling need for new intervention strategies with an improved therapeutic profile. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) represents an innovative anticancer strategy where dying cancer cells release damage-associated molecular patterns promoting tumor-specific immune responses. The roots of Withania somnifera (W. somnifera) are used in the Indian traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating, neuroprotective, and anticancer activities. The present study is designed to explore the antileukemic activity of the dimethyl sulfoxide extract obtained from the roots of W. somnifera (WE). We studied its cytostatic and cytotoxic activity, its ability to induce ICD, and its genotoxic potential on a human T-lymphoblastoid cell line by using different flow cytometric assays. Our results show that WE has a significant cytotoxic and cytostatic potential, and induces ICD. Its proapoptotic mechanism involves intracellular Ca2+ accumulation and the generation of reactive oxygen species. In our experimental conditions, the extract possesses a genotoxic potential. Since the use of Withania is suggested in different contexts including anti-infertility and osteoarthritis care, its genotoxicity should be carefully considered for an accurate assessment of its risk–benefit profile. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T03:21:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8904e5d1c07c43649c853c5d0d96e990 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T03:21:57Z |
| publishDate | 2016-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-8904e5d1c07c43649c853c5d0d96e9902022-12-22T02:15:17ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512016-05-018514710.3390/toxins8050147toxins8050147Withania somnifera Induces Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Effects on Human T Leukemia CellsEleonora Turrini0Cinzia Calcabrini1Piero Sestili2Elena Catanzaro3Elena de Gianni4Anna Rita Diaz5Patrizia Hrelia6Massimo Tacchini7Alessandra Guerrini8Barbara Canonico9Stefano Papa10Giovanni Valdrè11Carmela Fimognari12Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Corso d’Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, ItalyDepartment for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Corso d’Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, ItalyDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 2, 61029 Urbino, ItalyDepartment for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Corso d’Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, ItalyDepartment for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Corso d’Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, ItalyDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 2, 61029 Urbino, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences and Biotechnology (SVeB)-LT Terra & Acqua Tech RU, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d’Este 32, I-44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences and Biotechnology (SVeB)-LT Terra & Acqua Tech RU, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d’Este 32, I-44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 2, 61029 Urbino, ItalyDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 2, 61029 Urbino, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta S. Donato 1, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Corso d’Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, ItalyCancer chemotherapy is characterized by an elevated intrinsic toxicity and the development of drug resistance. Thus, there is a compelling need for new intervention strategies with an improved therapeutic profile. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) represents an innovative anticancer strategy where dying cancer cells release damage-associated molecular patterns promoting tumor-specific immune responses. The roots of Withania somnifera (W. somnifera) are used in the Indian traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating, neuroprotective, and anticancer activities. The present study is designed to explore the antileukemic activity of the dimethyl sulfoxide extract obtained from the roots of W. somnifera (WE). We studied its cytostatic and cytotoxic activity, its ability to induce ICD, and its genotoxic potential on a human T-lymphoblastoid cell line by using different flow cytometric assays. Our results show that WE has a significant cytotoxic and cytostatic potential, and induces ICD. Its proapoptotic mechanism involves intracellular Ca2+ accumulation and the generation of reactive oxygen species. In our experimental conditions, the extract possesses a genotoxic potential. Since the use of Withania is suggested in different contexts including anti-infertility and osteoarthritis care, its genotoxicity should be carefully considered for an accurate assessment of its risk–benefit profile.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/8/5/147Withania somniferaapoptosiscell cycleleukemiaoxidative stressimmunogenic cell deathgenotoxicity |
| spellingShingle | Eleonora Turrini Cinzia Calcabrini Piero Sestili Elena Catanzaro Elena de Gianni Anna Rita Diaz Patrizia Hrelia Massimo Tacchini Alessandra Guerrini Barbara Canonico Stefano Papa Giovanni Valdrè Carmela Fimognari Withania somnifera Induces Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Effects on Human T Leukemia Cells Toxins Withania somnifera apoptosis cell cycle leukemia oxidative stress immunogenic cell death genotoxicity |
| title | Withania somnifera Induces Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Effects on Human T Leukemia Cells |
| title_full | Withania somnifera Induces Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Effects on Human T Leukemia Cells |
| title_fullStr | Withania somnifera Induces Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Effects on Human T Leukemia Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Withania somnifera Induces Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Effects on Human T Leukemia Cells |
| title_short | Withania somnifera Induces Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Effects on Human T Leukemia Cells |
| title_sort | withania somnifera induces cytotoxic and cytostatic effects on human t leukemia cells |
| topic | Withania somnifera apoptosis cell cycle leukemia oxidative stress immunogenic cell death genotoxicity |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/8/5/147 |
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