Aim: To study the anticancer activity of isolated compounds from root of Aralia racemosa L and whole plant of Argyreia pilosa Wight & Arn by SRB assay method on Ishikawa human Endometrial Adenocarcinoma and SCC–29B human oral cancer cell lines.

Materials and methods: Anticancer activity of isolated constituents of Aralia racemosa L and Argyreia pilosa Wight & Arn. was performed on SCC–29B and Ishikawa cancer cell lines by the Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) Mumbai, India. Cell line had been developed within RPMI 1640 medium that contains 10% fetal bovine serum and 2mM L–glutamine with the help of SRB assay along with the absorbance had been recorded on an Elisa plate reader at a wavelength of 540 nm with 690nm.

Results: Isolated constituents particularly caffeic acid showed LC50, TGI and GI50 activity at >80, 69.7 and <10µg/ ml on Ishikawa and >80µg/ ml of GI50 activity on SCC–29B cell lines; Ursolic acid showed TGI and GI50 activity at 37.2 and <10µg/ ml on Ishikawa and 60.2, <10 and <10µg/ml of LC50, TGI and GI50 activity on SCC–29B cell lines respectively.

Conclusion: Ursolic acid from Aralia racemosa L and Caffeic acid from Argyreia pilosa Wight & Arn has been showed anticancer activity SCC–29B and Ishikawa cancer cell line has been showed potent anticancer activity.

Keywords: Aralia racemosa L, Argyreia pilosa wight & arn, ishikawa, SCC–29B, ursolic acid, caffeic acid

ACTREC, advanced centre for treatment research and education in cancer; PEE, petroleum ether extract; SRB, sulforhodamine B; TGI, total growth inhibition; TCA, tricyclic antidepressant

A significant part of drug discovery in the last forty years has been focussed on agents to prevent or treat cancer. This is not surprising because, in most developed countries and, to an increasing extent, in developing countries, cancer is amongst the three most common causes of death and morbidity. Treatments for cancer may involve surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and often a combination of two or all three is employed. Natural compounds from flowering plants play a significant role in cancer chemotherapy. Anticancer drugs in wide clinical use include vincristine and vinblastine from Catharanthus roseus, palitaxel (Taxol) and taxotere from species of yew (Taxus), etoposide derived from lignans of Podophyllum spp. and camptothecin analogues, such as topotecan, from Camptotheca acuminata. All of these are fundamentally cytotoxic and act principally by inhibiting cell proliferation, but by different mechanisms. In fact, some natural products have been found to act by novel mechanisms and so have enabled novel targets to be developed for screening, exemplified by the discovery that paclitaxel inhibited mitosis by stabilising microtubules and so preventing their depolymerisation back to tubulin, in contrast to many other anticancer agents which inhibit the formation of microtubules in the first place.¹

Araliaceae is an extensive family consists of 254 species. Aralia racemosa L. is a perennial herb in this family and is distributed in America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands. The genus Aralia of the family Araliaceae is contained up of 71 species of plants scattered over Asia, North America and South America i.e., A. armata, A. bipinnata, A. chinensis, A. continentalis, A. cordata, A. dasyphylla, A. echinocaulis, A. elata, A. fargensii, A. nudicaulis. One genus of Aralia found in India i.e., Aralia racemosa L. It is commonly known as American Spikenard. The plants of this family have a significant contribution in the treatment of respiratory inflammation, diabetes, cancer, and parasitic infections.2 The genus Aralia is rich in triterpenoidal saponins chemically. Phytochemical investigation on Aralia racemosa L. revealed the presence of triterpenoidal saponins i.e., Oleanolic Acid, Sterols i.e., β–sitosterol and Diterpenoids i.e., ent–Kaurenoic acid, Continentalic acid.^2,3 In conventional system of medicine the various parts of A. racemosa L. can be used in the remedy of Rheumatism, Whooping cough, skin diseases, pleurisy, diaphoretic, diuretic, pulmonary diseases, asthma, rheumatism, diarrhea, stimulant, expectorant, syphilis, Inflammation and Hay fever.^4,5 Various pharmacological activities of Aralia racemosa have been reported such as antioxidant, ant diabetic,^6,7 anti tubercular⁸ and hepatoprotective.⁹

Argyreia pilosa Wight & Arn is an ornamental, in addition to a medicinal plant. All parts of this plant are widely used as a folklore medicine for the treatment of various ailments by the Indian traditional healer. Its root is utilized to cure a various illness like sexually transmitted diseases viz., gonorrhea and syphilis, blood diseases. Traditionally, the paste of the leaves is applied to the neck region for cough, quinsy and applied externally in case of itch, eczema and other skin troubles, antidiabetic, antiphlogistic, rheumatism and reduce burning sensation.¹⁰ Young wines are mixed together with rhizome of ginger are spread all around the body to relieve from fever. The decoction of its root used to treat diarrhea and cathartic.¹¹ A vast range of phytochemical constituents has been separated from the genus Argyreia i.e., glycosides, alkaloids, amino acids, proteins, flavonoids, triterpene and steroids.¹² The genus Argyreia has been reported various biological activities including nootropic, aphrodisiac, antioxidant, antiulcer, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, anti–inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, antiviral, nematicidal, anticonvulsant, analgesic, anti–inflammatory , wound healing, anthelmintic and central nervous depressant activities.^12-14 Even though the drug has many uses, it’s pharmacological and phytochemistry is very poorly explored. Traditionally, both plants were utilized for anticancer activity but till date no scientific evidence has been reported on SCC–29B and Ishikawa cancer cell lines. Therefore, the current study has been carried out with the isolated constituents from root of Aralia racemosa L. and whole plant of Argyreia pilosa Wight and Arn. with a view to investigate its anticancer activity against SCC–29B and Ishikawa cancer cell lines using adriamycin as a reference standard.

Procurement and authentication of crude drug

The plants A. racemosa and A. pilosa were collected from Tirupathi during the month of September, 2016. The plants were identified and authenticated by Dr K. Madhava chetty; plant taxonomist, Department of Botany, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh and voucher specimen of the plant (No 1489 and 1922) were deposited at the herbarium for future references. The plant materials were dried under shade for 15 days, coarsely powdered and stored in air tight containers protected from humidity and sunlight for further study.

Preparation of methanolic extracts

Each 250g of powdered crude drug of A. racemosa and A. pilosa were extracted by cold maceration with 1000mL of methanol for 18h. The extracts acquired were concentrated to dryness in vacuum at 40°C and stored at 4°C within the refrigerator until further used. The extracts were subjected to phytochemical and pharmacological assessment.¹⁵

Phytochemical screening

The various extracts of A. racemosa and A. pilosa were subjected to qualitative chemical analysis by using standard procedures as follows. The phytochemical screening of carbohydrates was detected by Molisch’s test; proteins were detected by using two tests namely Biuret test and Millon’s test and amino acids by Ninhyrdin’s test; Steroids was detected by Salkowski, Liebermann– Bur chard's and Liebermann’s test; alkaloids were identified with freshly prepared Dragendroff’s Mayer’s, Hager’s and Wagner’s reagents and observed for the presence of turbidity or precipitation. The flavonoids were detected using four tests namely Shinoda, sulfuric acid, aluminum chloride, lead acetate, and sodium hydroxides. Tannins were detected with four tests namely gelatin, lead acetate, potassium dichromate and ferric chloride. The froth, emulsion, and lead acetate tests were applied for the detection of saponins. The steroids were detected by (acetic anhydride with sulfuric acid) and (acetic chloride with sulfuric acid) tests. Sample extracted with chloroform was treated with sulfuric acid to test for the presence of terpenoids. Ammonia solution and ferric chloride solutions were used for the presence of anthraquionones.^16-23

Isolation of constituents from Aralia racemosa L.

Petroleum ether extract (PEE) was subjected to silica–gel (100–200 mesh) column (length 100cm and diameter 3cm) chromatography (elution rate of 2ml min−1 flow with a total elution of 200ml) and eluted with Petroleum ether and ethyl acetate in different proportions. The consequent fractions (Fr) were collected and spotted over pre–coated silica gel F254 plates (20×20cm, Merck, Germany). The optimum resolution was achieved in the hexane, ethyl acetate and formic acid (7.5: 2: 0.5v/v) solvent system and the plates were sprayed with anisaldehyde–sulphuric acid reagent to visualize the spots. The fractions showing similar spots were pooled together and concentrated. The fractions which showed prominent spots were taken up for spectral studies which result in the identification of 3 compounds. The compounds PC–2 was identified as Stigmasterol, a phytosterols by Libermann–Burchard’s test. The chloroform fraction was subjected to chromatography on silica gel (60–120 mesh, Merck) eluted with ethyl acetate–hexane (7:3) solvent system. Repeated chromatography to give major two pentacyclic triterpenoids i.e., PC–4 and PC–5 i.e. Oleanolic acid and Ursolic acid.^24,25

Isolation of constituents from Argyreia pilosa wight & arn

Petroleum ether extract (PEE) was subjected to silica–gel column chromatography (elution rate of 2ml min−1 flow having a total elution of 200ml) and eluted with Petroleum ether and ethyl acetate in various ratios. The resulting fractions (Fr) were obtained and spotted over precoated silica gel F254 plates (20×20cm, Merck, Germany). The best resolution had been attained using chloroform: ethyl acetate (5: 5v/v) solvent system as well as the plates was dribbled using anisaldehyde–sulphuric acid reagent to visualize the spots. The chloroform portion was subjected to chromatography on silica gel (60–120 mesh, Merck) elided with chloroform: ethyl acetate (5:5) solvent system. Repeated chromatography to provide two main steroids i.e., PC–1 (β–Sitosterol) and PC–2 (Stigmasterol).²⁶ Soon after extraction, the aqueous portion was attained and leftover to stand in a cool place for 72 hours; a yellow coloured product separated from the solution. The precipitate was filtered and washed with a combination of chloroform: ethyl acetate: ethanol (50:25:25). The un–dissolved portion of the precipitate was mixed in hot methanol strained, the filtrate was evaporated to dryness to provide 115mg yellow powder i.e., PC–1 (Rutin), and its melting point had been determined. The ethyl acetate fraction was chromatographed using Diaion HP eluted from water–methanol step gradient (Starting from 100:0 to 0:100). The water–methanol fraction (50:50) had been chromatographed on sephadex LH–20 column eluted with methanol: water (7:3) to give PC–2 (Caffeic acid).²⁷

Anticancer activity on ishikawa and SCC–29B cell lines

The anticancer activity of isolated constituents of Aralia racemosa L. and Argyreia pilosa Wight & Arn was performed on Ishikawa SCC–29B and cancer cell lines by the Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) Mumbai, India. The cell viability was measured using SRB assay. All the environmental conditions were maintained throughout the experiment for all the groups. The assay was performed in triplicate for each of the extracts. The growth curve was plotted against molar drug concentration of isolated constituents and % control growth.

Experimental procedure or SRB assay

The cell lines were grown in RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 2mM L–glutamine. For present screening experiment, cells were inoculated into 96 well microtiter plates in 100µL at plating densities as shown in the study details above, depending on the doubling time of individual cell lines. After cell inoculation, the microtiter plates were incubated at 37°C, 5% CO2, 95% air and 100% relative humidity for 24h prior to addition of experimental drugs. Experimental drugs were initially solubilized in dimethyl sulfoxide at 100mg/ml and diluted to 1mg/ml using water and stored frozen prior to use. At the time of drug addition, an aliquote of frozen concentrate (1mg/ml) was thawed and diluted to 100μg/ml, 200μg/ml, 400μg/ml and 800μg/ml with complete medium containing test article. Aliquots of 10µl of these different drug dilutions were added to the appropriate microtiter wells already containing 90µl of medium, resulting in the required final drug concentrations i.e.10μg/ml, 20μg/ml, 40μg/ml, 80μg/ml.

After compound addition, plates were incubated at standard conditions for 48 hours and assay was terminated by the addition of cold TCA. Cells were fixed in situ by the gentle addition of 50µl of cold 30% (w/v) TCA (final concentration, 10% TCA) and incubated for 60 minutes at 4°C. The supernatant was discarded; the plates were washed five times with tap water and air dried. Sulforhodamine B (SRB) solution (50µl) at 0.4% (w/v) in 1% acetic acid was added to each of the wells, and plates were incubated for 20 minutes at room temperature. After staining, unbound dye was recovered and the residual dye was removed by washing five times with 1% acetic acid. The plates were air dried. Bound stain was subsequently eluted with 10mM trizma base, and the absorbance was read on an plate reader at a wavelength of 540nm with 690nm reference wavelength. Percent growth was calculated on a plate–by–plate basis for test wells relative to control wells. Percent Growth was expressed as the ratio of average absorbance of the test well to the average absorbance of the control wells *100. Using the six absorbance measurements [time zero (Tz), control growth (C), and test growth in the presence of drug at the four concentration levels (Ti)]; the percentage growth was calculated at each of the drug concentration levels.

$Percentage growth inhibition= For concentrations for which Ti>/=Tz\left(Ti-Tz\right) positive or zero= \left[\left(Ti-Tz\right)/\left(C-Tz\right)\right]\times 100$

For concentrations for which

$Ti>/=Tz\left(Ti-Tz\right) positive or zero= \left[\left(Ti-Tz\right)/\left(C-Tz\right)\right]\times 100$

For concentrations for which

$Ti<Tz\left(Ti-Tz\right) negative= \left[\left(Ti-Tz\right)/\left(C-Tz\right)\right]\times 100$

Growth inhibition of 50%

$G150=\left[\left(Ti-Tz\right)/\left(C-Tz\right)\right]\times 100$

GI50 is that value of the drug concentration resulting in a 50% reduction in the net protein increase (as measured by SRB staining) in control cells during the drug incubation. The drug concentration resulting in total growth inhibition (TGI) was calculated from Ti=Tz. The LC50 is the drug concentration resulting in a 50% reduction in the measured protein at the end of the drug treatment as compared to that at the beginning. During this there is a net loss of 50% cells following treatment is calculated from

$\left[\left(Ti-Tz\right)/Tz\right]\times 100=-50$.^28,29

Statistical analysis

Values were calculated for each of these three parameters if the level of activity was reached; however, if the effect was not reached or was exceeded, the values for that parameter were expressed as greater or less than the maximum or minimum concentration tested. The experiment data were estimated using linear regression method of plots of the cell viability against the molar drug concentration of tested compounds.

Phytochemical screening

The phytochemical screening for various extracts viz., petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, n–butanol, and water was carried out and results were displayed in (Table 1 & 2).

Characterization of isolated phytoconstituents from Aralia racemosa and Argyreia pilosa

stigmasterol

White powder, C₂₉H₄₈O, MW 412.69. UV λ_max (CHCl₃)nm: 257; IR (KBr) ν_max 3418 (–OH), 2934, 2866, 2339, 1602, 1566, 1461, 1409, 1383, 1251, 1191, 1154, 1109, 1089, 1053, 1020, 791cm^–1; ESMS m/z (%): 409.2, 395.3, 335, 161, 144, 121.1, 105.1, 97.1, 85.1, 69, 67.2, 65, 50.2; 1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl₃) δ_ppm: 7.25 (1H, s, OH–2), 5.34–5.35 (1H, d), 5.12–5.18 (1H, m), 4.99–5.05 (1H, m), 3.48–3.56 (1H, m), 2.18–2.31 (2H, m), 1.93–2.09 (3H, m), 1.82–1.87 (2H, m), 1.66–1.75 (1H, m), 1.37–1.54 (13H, m), 1.05–1.31 (m, 7H), 0.99–1.01 (m, 8H), 0.90–0.98 (m, 2H), 0.78–0.85 (m, 9H), 0.66–0.70 (3H, t); ¹³C NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ_ppm: 140.85 (C–4), 138.31 (C–19), 129.40 (C–20), 121.72 (C–7), 77.34 (C–2), 71.86 (C–11), 56.95 (C–17), 56.09 (C–21), 51.29 (C–10), 50.29 (C–12), 42.41 (C–3), 42.30 (C–18), 40.46 (C–13), 39.77 (C–5), 37.35 (C–6), 36.59 (C–8), 32 (C–9), 31.96 (C–1), 31.91 (C–22), 31.77 (C–16), 28.91 (C–15), 25.41 (C–24), 24.41 (C–23), 21.24 (C–26), 21.14 (C–14), 21.06 (C–29), 19.42 (C–27), 19.03 (C–25), 12.23 (C–28). PC–01 was identified as Stigmasterol.

Oleanolic acid

White powder, C₃₀H₄₈O₃, MW 456.71; UV λ_max (EtOH) nm: 210; IR (KBr) ν_max 3443, 2941, 2862, 1694, 1602, 1566, 1462, 1388, 1364, 1304, 1273, 1208, 1185, 1161, 1093, 1028, 960, 791cm^–1; ESMS m/z (%): 455.3, 456.2; 1H NMR (400MHz, DMSO) δ_ppm: 12 (1H, s), 5.16 (1H, s), 4.27 (1H, s), 3 (1H, s), 2.73–2.77 (1H, m), 1.88–1.95 (1H, s), 1.80–1.83 (2H, m), 1.58–1.70 (3H, m), 1.42–1.50 (8H, m), 1.23–1.38 (5H, m), 1.07–1.10 (4H, t), 0.98–1.01 (1H, m), 0.86–0.93 (14H, m), 0.72 (3H, s), 0.68 (5H, s); ¹³C NMR (400MHz) 178.52 (C–28), 143.83 (C–12), 121.49 (C–13), 76.83 (C–2), 54.81 (C–4), 47.09 (C–11), 45.70 (C–10), 45.44 (C–22), 41.32 (C–17), 40.82 (C–22), 40.20 (C–18), 39.99 (C–12), 39.58 (C–9), 39.37 (C–6), 39.16 (C–3), 38.95 (C–5), 38.89 (C–8), 38.36 (C–19), 38.07 (C–21), 36.60 (C–1), 33.34 (C–29), 32.80 (C–30), 32.43 (C–16), 32.09 (C–14), 30.35 (C–23), 28.21 (C–24), 27.20 (C–7), 26.94 (C–26), 14.82 (C–27). PC–04 was identified as Oleanolic acid.

Ursolic acid

White powder, C30H48O3, MW 456.7 ; UV λ_max (EtOH) nm: 203; IR (KBr) ν_max 3450, 2925, 2869, 2339, 1556, 1456, 1387, 1247, 1157, 822, 444, 433, 422, 415cm^–1; ESMS m/z (%): 455.2 (M–1)+, 456.2, 457.3; 1H NMR (400MHz, DMSO) δ_ppm: 11.91 (1H, s), 5.14 (1H, s), 4.27 (1H, s), 3.01 (1H, s), 2.51 (1H, s), 2.10–2.13 (1H, d) 1.85–1.93 (4H, t), 1.26–1.32 (4H, t), 1.05 (1H, s), 0.91–0.92 (8H, d), 0.88 (1H, s) 0.82–0.83 (4H, d), 0.76 (3H, s), 0.69 (4H,s); ¹³C NMR (400MHz, DMSO) δ_ppm: 178.16 (C–29), 138.17 (C–12), 124.58 (C–13), 76.86 (C–2), 56.01 (C–4), 54.82 (C–18), 52.40 (C–11), 47.05 (C–10), 46.82 (C–17), 41.64 (C–9), 40.41 (C–3), 40.21 (C–22), 40 (C–6), 39.79 (C–5), 39.58 (C–19), 39.37 (C–8), 39.16 (C–20), 38.96 (C–1), 38.49 (C–15), 38.46 (C–16), 38.36 (C–23), 38.28 (C–24), 36.53 (C–14), 36.31 (C–30), 32.73 (C–7), 30.2 (C–28), 28.24 (C–26), 27.55 (C–27), 26.99 (C–15). PC–03 was identified as Ursolic acid.

Rutin

Yellow powder, C27H30O16, MW 610.52 ; UV λ_max (EtOH) nm: 203; IR (KBr) ν_max 1001, 1013, 1065, 1092, 1150, 1166, 1203, 1295, 1362, 1458, 1504, 1566, 1601, 1649, 2340, 3422cm^–1; ESMS m/z (%): 609.1 (M–1)–, 610, 301; 1H NMR (400MHz, DMSO) δ_ppm: 12.6 (1H, s), 10.84 (1H, s), 9.68 (1H, s), 9.18 (1H, s), 7.55–7.56 (1H, d), 7.54 (1H, s) 6.84–6.86 (1H, d), 6.39 (1H, d), 6.2 (1H, d), 5.34–5.36 (1H, t), 5.29 (1H, d), 5.11 (1H, s), 5.07–5.09 (1H, d), 4.53 (1H, s), 4.39 (2H, s). 4.35 (1H, s), 3.70–3.72 (1H, d), 3.21–3.32 (1H, m), 3.05–3.10 (2H, t); 13C NMR (400MHz, DMSO) δ_ppm: 177.35 (C–4), 164.03 (C–7), 161.20 (C–5), 156.57 (C–8a), 156.40 (C–2), 148.37 (C–4’), 144.71 (C–5’), 133.31 (C–3), 121.56 (C–1’), 121.18 (C–2’), 116.26 (C–3’), 115.21 (C–6’), 103.96 (C–6’’’), 101.19 (C–6’’), 100.70 (C–4a), 98.65 (C–6), 93.55 (C–8), 76.46 (C–2’’), 75.90 (C–4’’), 74.06 (C–5’’), 71.85 (C–2’’’), 70.56 (C–5’’’), 70.35 (C–3’’’), 70.01 (C–4’’’), 68.20 (C–3’’), 66.97 (C–2a), 17.68 (C–2’’’). PC–03 was identified as Rutin.

Caffeic acid

White powder, C9H8O4; MW 180.16 ; UV λ_max (Acidified MeOH): 295nm; IR (KBr) ν_max 960.11, 1118, 1156, 1217, 1278, 1295, 1326, 1353, 1449, 1566, 1602, 2350 and 3424cm^–1; ESMS m/z (%): 177, 178, 179 (M–1), 180, 135.2; 1H NMR (400MHz, DMSO) δ_ppm: 3.41 (1H, s), 6.15–6.19 (1H, d), 6.75 – 6.77 (1H, s), 6.95–6.98 (1H, q), 7.031–7.035 (1H, d), 7.4–7.44 (1H, d), 9.12 (1H, s), 9.51 (1H, s), 12.1 (1H, s); ¹³C NMR (400MHz, DMSO) δ_ppm: 114.63 (C–6), 115.12 (C–8), 115.74 (C–3), 121.08 (C–4), 125.71 (C–5), 144.52 (C–7), 145.53 (C–1), 148.08 (C–2), 167.81 (C–9) (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Isolated constituents from A. racemosa and A. pilosa.

In the present investigation the cytotoxicity and anticancer activity (in vitro) of isolated constituents from A. racemosa and A. pilosa were carried out on Ishikawa (human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines) and SCC–29B (Human oral cancer cell lines) by SRB assay. After completion of protocol the absorbance was read on an Elisa plate reader at a wavelength of 540nm. Photography of cell cultures were taken Figure 2, Figure 3 and values were plotted on graph and LC50, TGI and GI50 were then calculated from the graph Figure 4. Along with adrinamycin and isolated constituents treated cells also showed kariolysis, apoptosis, roundening of cell Figure 2, Figure 4. GI50 means the drug concentration resulting in a 50% reduction in the net protein increase as compared to control cells. TGI is the drug concentration resulting in total growth inhibition. The LC50 is the drug concentration resulting in a 50% reduction in the measured protein at the end as compared to the beginning. Isolated constituents particularly caffeic acid showed LC50, TGI and GI50 activity at >80, 69.7 and <10µg/ml on Ishikawa and >80µg/ml of GI50 activity on SCC–29B cell lines; Ursolic acid showed TGI and GI50 activity at 37.2 and <10µg/ml on Ishikawa and 60.2, <10 and <10µg/ml of LC50, TGI and GI50 activity on SCC–29B cell lines respectively (Table 3–6).

Figure 2 Morphology of the Endometrial Adenocarcinoma cancer cell lines (Ishikawa) in-vitro.
A: Phase-contrast photography of Ishikawa cell lines.
B: Phase-contrast photography of Ishikawa cell lines with Rutin.
C: Phase-contrast photography of Ishikawa cell lines with Stigmasterol.
D: Phase-contrast photography of Ishikawa cell lines with Caffeic acid.
E: Phase-contrast photography of Ishikawa cell lines with Oleanolic acid.
F: Phase-contrast photography of Ishikawa cell lines with Ursolic acid.
G: Phase-contrast photography of Ishikawa cell lines with adriamycin.

Figure 3 Morphology of the Oral cancer cell lines (SCC-29B) in-vitro.
A: Phase-contrast photography of SCC-29B cell lines.
B: Phase-contrast photography of SCC-29B cell lines with Rutin.
C: Phase-contrast photography of SCC-29B cell lines with Stigmasterol.
D: Phase-contrast photography of SCC-29B cell lines with Caffeic acid.
E: Phase-contrast photography of SCC-29B cell lines with Oleanolic acid.
F: Phase-contrast photography of SCC-29B cell lines with Ursolic acid.
G: Phase-contrast photography of SCC-29B cell lines with adriamycin.

Figure 4 Ishikawa and SCC-29B cell line growth curve.

The chemotherapeutic agents extensive utilized in oncologic therapy produce deleterious unwanted effects which enhance the fatality as well as morbidity brought on by malignancy. Safer therapies are thus frantically required, a few of that you can get within natural substances like phytochemicals. Having well–known chemopreventive activities and preclinical antitumor effects, phytochemicals give a novel restorative strategy which value additional exploration.³⁰ Phenols and polyphenols, flavonoids and their derivatives, are ubiquitous in plants and more than 8,000 different compounds are included in this group and many of them are antioxidants. They are associated with the inhibition of vascular disease and malignancy.³¹ Flavonoids have drawn a lot of interest with regards to their potential benefits on health.³² Flavonoids have been shown to possess antimalignant effects.³³ In accordance with Gali et al.³⁴ the anticancer effects of methanol extract of Argemone mexicana Linn. leaves might be related to their content of Flavonoids.³⁴ Reported by Pradhan, flavonoids might exert their chemopreventive role in malignancy via their results on signal transduction in cell proliferation as well as angiogenesis.³⁵

Results from present investigation indicate that A. racemosa and A. pilosa has anticancer activity (in vitro) on Ishikawa and SCC–29B cancer cell line. The isolated constituents throughout the studies showed negative activity on cell lines except Caffeic acid and Ursolic acid that showed comparable activity to the standard compound Adriamycin for Ishikawa, human Endometrial Adenocarcinoma and SCC–29B, human oral cancer cell lines respectively. The effective concentration of major isolated constituents was observed to be < 80µg/ml. Our results are in concordance with some of the previous studies on this plant. Clement et al.³⁶ MCF–7 breast tumor cell line. These previous studies indicate that this plant has some phytochemicals which can have possible anticancer activity, either singly or in combination. The present results, together with previous studies, suggest that A. racemosa and A. pilosa possess anticancer activity.

The outcome attained from the current investigation signifies that the both plants owned a considerable anticancer activity may be attributed to the presence of isolated constituents i.e., Ursolic acid from Aralia racemosa L and Caffeic acid from Argyreia pilosa, indicating the traditional relevance of the plant, which were non toxic to normal cells. The results of the study will also need to be confirmed using in vivo models and to determine the other active chemical constituents accountable for the anticancer activity.

This work was a part of the Ph.D. thesis of DSNBK. Peasant under the guidance of Dr. A Srinivasa Rao and Y Rajendra Prasad in JNTUK, Kakinada and we extend our sincere thanks to Dr. A Lakshmana Rao, Principal, and management of V. V. Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gudlavalleru, Andhra Pradesh, for providing the research facilities.

The author declares no conflict of interest.

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