Extracts from Nepenthes mirabilis have the ability to effectively inhibit the growth of cervical and colorectal cancer cell lines.
Potential “candidate” in medicine
The Nepenthes pitcher plant is a predatory plant belonging to the Nepenthaceae family, commonly found in swampy or coastal areas in Southeast Asia, including Phu Quoc Island - where the research team collected samples for the project.
This plant has long been known in traditional medicine for its cooling, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic properties. However, this is the first time that the extract from the double-flowered pitcher plant has been extensively studied for its anti-cancer properties at the cellular level.
The group of authors led by MSc. Nguyen Quoc Chau Thanh, Faculty of Natural Sciences , Can Tho University, tested methanol extract from this plant on human cancer cell lines, including cervical cancer (HeLa, C-33A), liver cancer (HepG2), colorectal cancer (HT-29), and evaluated the safety on the normal cell line HEK293 (human embryonic kidney).
The results showed that the extract from the double-flowered pitcher plant has the ability to effectively inhibit HeLa and HT-29 cancer cells. Specifically, after 24 hours of treatment, the extract reached an IC50 value (concentration that inhibits 50% of cells) of 151.35 µg/mL with a selectivity index SI = 1.86. After 48 hours, the IC50 was 158.49 µg/mL, SI = 1.26. On the HT-29 cell line, after 48 hours of treatment, the IC50 reached 141.25 µg/mL, SI = 1.41. An SI index greater than 1 indicates good selectivity of the extract for cancer cells compared to healthy cells.
A noteworthy point is that the toxicity of the extract on the normal cell line HEK293 is quite low (IC50 = 199.53 µg/mL after 48 hours), showing that the extract does not cause significant harm to healthy cells - a very important condition if we want to apply it as a cancer treatment drug in the future.
The research team also compared the effectiveness with some other medicinal herbs such as Jasmine bark, Pinellia ternata, and showed that the Double-flowered Pitcher Plant extract has equivalent or superior safety and effectiveness.
Not only stopping at the testing effectiveness on cancer cells, the research team also qualitatively and quantitatively identified the main biological active ingredients in the extract to investigate the relationship between chemical composition and pharmacological effects.
The analysis results showed that the Double-flowered Pitcher Plant contains very high levels of biologically active compounds, especially polyphenols and flavonoids - two groups of substances that play an important role in anti-oxidation and anti-cancer.
Specifically, the total polyphenol content in the extract reached 538.20 mgGAE/g extract, while the flavonoid content was 367.08 mgQE/g. These values are much higher than those of many plants known to have anti-cancer effects such as green tea (TPC ~321 mgGAE/g; TFC ~127 mgQE/g) or pomegranate peel (TPC ~356 mgGAE/g; TFC ~37 mgQE/g). This shows the great potential of Pitcher Plant in the pharmaceutical preparation field.
Orientation of cancer drug development
According to MSc. Nguyen Quoc Chau Thanh, polyphenols and flavonoids have been proven to promote programmed cell death (apoptosis), inhibit DNA replication, prevent the formation of new blood vessels to nourish cancer cells and limit metastasis.
Therefore, the discovery of an indigenous plant source containing high levels of these active ingredients such as Pitcher Plant has special significance, not only scientifically but also opens up opportunities for developing products from Vietnam's natural resources.
In addition, other chemical components identified in the extract such as organic acids, tannins, saponins, triterpenoids may also contribute synergistically in the anti-cancer mechanism. This diversity of bioactive compounds further strengthens the basis for expecting an overall therapeutic effect when applied to living organisms.
Although the current tests are still at the cellular level (in vitro), the initial results of the study have laid the foundation for a promising approach in developing herbal cancer drugs. The use of indigenous medicinal herbs not only helps reduce research and production costs but also contributes to taking advantage of Vietnam's rich biological resources.
However, to be able to put the extract of Double-flowered Pitcher Plant into practical application, further research steps are necessary, including acute and chronic toxicity testing on animals, studying the molecular mechanism of action, determining pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical trials on humans. This is a long way, requiring investment and coordination between research - medical - pharmaceutical units.
In the context of cancer becoming increasingly common and the leading cause of death in Vietnam and the world , the discovery and development of new treatments, especially from natural sources, is an important strategy. Extracts from the Pitcher Plant can be one of the brightest candidates in the race to find an effective cancer treatment solution, with low toxicity and suitable for the Vietnamese physique.
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Source: https://baolaocai.vn/chiet-xuat-tu-cay-nap-am-hoa-doi-giup-dieu-tri-ung-thu-post650169.html
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