Cytotoxic Effects of Phytophenolics from Caesalpinia mimosoides Lamk on Cervical Carcinoma Cell Lines through an Apoptotic Pathway

Background: Extracts of Caesalpinia mimosoides Lamk has been reported to possess anticancer effects, butthe active ingredients and the anti-cancer mechanisms are still unknown. Materials and
Methods: The effectsof a C mimosoides Lamk extract on cell proliferation and apoptosis induction in human cervical carcinoma celllines, namely HeLa, SiHa, and C33A, as well as in normal Vero cells, were investigated.
Results: Treatment with5 active fractions (F17-F21) of C mimosoides Lamk methanol extracts inhibited cell viability in a dose- and timedependentmanner. Neutral red assays indicated that treatment with F21 significantly decreased the viability ofall cervical cancer cell lines compared to F21-treated normal cells. In addition, HPLC analysis revealed that F21contained multiple phenolic compounds, namely gallic acid, caffeine, vanillic acid, ferulic acid and resveratrol.F21 had the lowest IC50 and, therefore, a much higher cytotoxicity than F20, F17, F19, and F18 by 20-, 25-,46- and 47- fold, respectively. Analysis of activation of the apoptosis pathway using a caspase 3/7 activity assayrevealed that F21 treatment resulted in a considerable increase in caspase activation in all cancer cell lines tested.At the same concentration of F21, HeLa cells had the highest caspase activity (6.5-fold) compared to the control.
Conclusion: C mimosoides Lamk may be of value as an alternative therapeutic agent, especially in combinationwith other compounds offering possible of synergy of action. Moreover, HPV- and non-HPV-related cervicalcancer cells may differ in their responses to treatment regimens.