Anticancer Potential of <i>Sutherlandia frutescens</i> and <i>Xysmalobium undulatum</i> in LS180 Colorectal Cancer Mini-Tumors

Colorectal cancer remains to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with millions of patients diagnosed each year. Although chemotherapeutic drugs are routinely used to treat cancer, these treatments have severe side effects. As a result, the use of herbal medicines has gained increasing p...

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Main Authors: Chrisna Gouws, Tanya Smit, Clarissa Willers, Hanna Svitina, Carlemi Calitz, Krzysztof Wrzesinski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/3/605
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author Chrisna Gouws
Tanya Smit
Clarissa Willers
Hanna Svitina
Carlemi Calitz
Krzysztof Wrzesinski
author_facet Chrisna Gouws
Tanya Smit
Clarissa Willers
Hanna Svitina
Carlemi Calitz
Krzysztof Wrzesinski
author_sort Chrisna Gouws
collection DOAJ
description Colorectal cancer remains to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with millions of patients diagnosed each year. Although chemotherapeutic drugs are routinely used to treat cancer, these treatments have severe side effects. As a result, the use of herbal medicines has gained increasing popularity as a treatment for cancer. In this study, two South African medicinal plants widely used to treat various diseases, <i>Sutherlandia frutescens</i> and <i>Xysmalobium undulatum,</i> were evaluated for potential activity against colorectal cancer. This potential activity for the treatment of colorectal cancer was assessed relative to the known chemotherapeutic drug, paclitaxel. The cytotoxic activity was considered in an advanced three-dimensional (3D) sodium alginate encapsulated LS180 colorectal cancer functional spheroid model, cultured in clinostat-based rotating bioreactors. The LS180 cell mini-tumors were treated for 96 h with two concentrations of each of the crude aqueous extracts or paclitaxel. <i>S. frutescens</i> extract markedly decreased the soluble protein content, while decreasing ATP and AK per protein content to below detectable limits after only 24 h exposure. <i>X. undulatum</i> extract also decreased the soluble protein content, cell viability, and glucose consumption. The results suggested that the two phytomedicines have potential to become a source of new treatments against colorectal cancer.
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spelling doaj.art-f49f672e30a344aeaebdac0d4594289c2023-12-03T14:33:00ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-01-0126360510.3390/molecules26030605Anticancer Potential of <i>Sutherlandia frutescens</i> and <i>Xysmalobium undulatum</i> in LS180 Colorectal Cancer Mini-TumorsChrisna Gouws0Tanya Smit1Clarissa Willers2Hanna Svitina3Carlemi Calitz4Krzysztof Wrzesinski5Pharmacen™, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South AfricaPharmacen™, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South AfricaPharmacen™, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South AfricaPharmacen™, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South AfricaDepartment of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Box 571, Husargatan 3, 75431 Uppsala, SwedenPharmacen™, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South AfricaColorectal cancer remains to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with millions of patients diagnosed each year. Although chemotherapeutic drugs are routinely used to treat cancer, these treatments have severe side effects. As a result, the use of herbal medicines has gained increasing popularity as a treatment for cancer. In this study, two South African medicinal plants widely used to treat various diseases, <i>Sutherlandia frutescens</i> and <i>Xysmalobium undulatum,</i> were evaluated for potential activity against colorectal cancer. This potential activity for the treatment of colorectal cancer was assessed relative to the known chemotherapeutic drug, paclitaxel. The cytotoxic activity was considered in an advanced three-dimensional (3D) sodium alginate encapsulated LS180 colorectal cancer functional spheroid model, cultured in clinostat-based rotating bioreactors. The LS180 cell mini-tumors were treated for 96 h with two concentrations of each of the crude aqueous extracts or paclitaxel. <i>S. frutescens</i> extract markedly decreased the soluble protein content, while decreasing ATP and AK per protein content to below detectable limits after only 24 h exposure. <i>X. undulatum</i> extract also decreased the soluble protein content, cell viability, and glucose consumption. The results suggested that the two phytomedicines have potential to become a source of new treatments against colorectal cancer.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/3/605anticancercolorectal cancerfunctional spheroidsphytomedicinesodium alginate<i>Sutherlandia frutescens</i>
spellingShingle Chrisna Gouws
Tanya Smit
Clarissa Willers
Hanna Svitina
Carlemi Calitz
Krzysztof Wrzesinski
Anticancer Potential of <i>Sutherlandia frutescens</i> and <i>Xysmalobium undulatum</i> in LS180 Colorectal Cancer Mini-Tumors
Molecules
anticancer
colorectal cancer
functional spheroids
phytomedicine
sodium alginate
<i>Sutherlandia frutescens</i>
title Anticancer Potential of <i>Sutherlandia frutescens</i> and <i>Xysmalobium undulatum</i> in LS180 Colorectal Cancer Mini-Tumors
title_full Anticancer Potential of <i>Sutherlandia frutescens</i> and <i>Xysmalobium undulatum</i> in LS180 Colorectal Cancer Mini-Tumors
title_fullStr Anticancer Potential of <i>Sutherlandia frutescens</i> and <i>Xysmalobium undulatum</i> in LS180 Colorectal Cancer Mini-Tumors
title_full_unstemmed Anticancer Potential of <i>Sutherlandia frutescens</i> and <i>Xysmalobium undulatum</i> in LS180 Colorectal Cancer Mini-Tumors
title_short Anticancer Potential of <i>Sutherlandia frutescens</i> and <i>Xysmalobium undulatum</i> in LS180 Colorectal Cancer Mini-Tumors
title_sort anticancer potential of i sutherlandia frutescens i and i xysmalobium undulatum i in ls180 colorectal cancer mini tumors
topic anticancer
colorectal cancer
functional spheroids
phytomedicine
sodium alginate
<i>Sutherlandia frutescens</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/3/605
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