In Vitro Anticancer Potential of Tree Extracts from the Walloon Region Forest

Abstract

Forty-eight extracts from 16 common Belgian trees from the Walloon Region forest were evaluated for in vitro growth inhibitory activity against the human LoVo colon cancer, PC3 prostate cancer, and U373 glioblastoma cell lines. Our study was performed with the aim of selecting plant candidates in order to later isolate new anticancer compounds from an easily affordable tree material. Extracts from Alnus glutinosa (stem bark), Carpinus betulus (leaves and stem bark), Castanea sativa (stem bark), Fagus sylvatica (leaves), Ilex aquifolium (leaves), Larix decidua (leaves), Quercus petraea (stem bark), and Quercus robur (leaves) showed for the first time potent in vitro growth inhibitory activity and could become easily affordable sources of potential new anticancer agents. Root extracts from Robinia pseudoacacia, already known for containing cytotoxic lectins, also showed interesting activity.

Key words

cancer - Carpinus betulus - Quercus robur - Quercus petraea - Ilex aquifolium - Fagus sylvatica

References

• 1 Cragg G M, Newman D J. Plants as a source of anti-cancer agents.  J Ethnopharmacol. 2005;  100 72-77
• 2 da Rocha A B, Lopes R M, Schwartsmann G. Natural products in anticancer therapy.  Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2001;  1 364-369
• 3 Tesei A, Rosetti M, Ulivi P, Fabbri F, Medri L, Vannini I, Bolla M, Amadori D, Zoli W. Study of molecular mechanisms of pro-apoptotic activity of NCX 4040, a novel nitric oxide-releasing aspirin, in colon cancer cell lines.  J Transl Med. 2007;  5 52
• 4 Dumont P, Ingrassia L, Rouzeau S, Ribaucour F, Thomas S, Roland I, Darro F, Lefranc F, Kiss R. The Amaryllidaceae isocarbostyril narciclasine induces apoptosis by activation of the death receptor and/or mitochondrial pathways in cancer cells but not in normal fibroblasts.  Neoplasia. 2007;  9 766-776
• 5 Van Quaquebeke E, Mahieu T, Dumont P, Dewelle J, Ribaucour F, Simon G, Sauvage S, Gaussin J F, Tuti J, El Yazidi M, Van Vynckt F, Mijatovic T, Lefranc F, Darro F, Kiss R. 2,2,2-Trichloro-N-({2-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H‐benzo[de]isoquinolin-5-yl}carbamoyl)acetamide (UNBS3157), a novel nonhematotoxic naphthalimide derivative with potent antitumor activity.  J Med Chem. 2007;  50 4122-4134
• 6 Van Quaquebeke E, Simon G, Andre A, Dewelle J, El Yazidi M, Bruyneel F, Tuti J, Nacoulma O, Guissou P, Decaestecker C, Braekman J C, Kiss R, Darro F. Identification of a novel cardenolide (2′′-oxovoruscharin) from Calotropis procera and the hemisynthesis of novel derivatives displaying potent in vitro antitumor activities and high in vivo tolerance: structure-activity relationship analyses.  J Med Chem. 2005;  48 849-856
• 7 Hoog P, Boldron C, Gamez P, Sliedregt-Bol K, Roland I, Pitié M, Kiss R, Meunier B, Reedijk J. New approach for the preparation of efficient DNA cleaving agents: ditopic copper-platinum complexes based on 3-Clip-Phen and cisplatin.  J Med Chem. 2007;  50 3148-3152
• 8 Bruggisser R, von Daeniken K, Jundt G, Schaffner W, Tullberg-Reinert H. Interference of plant extracts, phytoestrogens and antioxidants with the MTT tetrazolium assay.  Planta Med. 2002;  68 445-448
• 9 Simon G, Dewelle J, Nacoulma O, Guissou P, Kiss R, Daloze D, Braekman J C. Cytotoxic pentacyclic triterpenes from Combretum nigricans. .  Fitoterapia. 2003;  74 339-344
• 10 Salmoun M, Braekman J C, Ranarivelo Y, Rasamoelisendra R, Ralambomanana D, Dewelle J, Darro F, Kiss R. New calamene sesquiterpenes from Tarena madagascarensis.  Nat Prod Res. 2007;  21 111-120
• 11 Salmoun M, Braekman J C, Dewelle J, Darro F, Kiss R, De Voogd N J, Van Soest R W. New terpenoids from two Indonesian marine sponges.  Nat Prod Res. 2007;  21 149-155
• 12 Pusztai A, Bardocz S, Ewen S W. Uses of plant lectins in bioscience and biomedicine.  Front Biosci. 2008;  13 1130-1140
• 13 Goun E A, Petrichenko V M, Solodnikov S U, Suhinina T V, Kline M A, Cunningham G, Nguyen C, Miles H. Anticancer and antithrombin activity of Russian plants.  J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;  81 337-342
• 14 Lefranc F, Mijatovic T, Kondo Y, Sauvage S, Roland I, Krstic D, Vasic V, Gailly P, Kondo S, Blanco G, Kiss R. Targeting the alpha-1 subunit of the sodium pump (the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase) to combat glioblastoma cells.  Neurosurgery. 2008;  62 211-222
• 15 Lefranc F, Facchini V, Kiss R. Pro-autophagic drugs: A novel means to combat apoptosis-resistant cancers, with a special emphasis on glioblastomas.  Oncologist. 2007;  12 1395-1403
• 16 Lefranc F, Ingrassia L, Kiss R. Targeting autophagy: do patents reveal a therapeutic potential?.  Expert Opin Ther Patents. 2008;  18 1-7
• 17 Moine C, Krausz P, Chaleix V, Sainte-Catherine O, Kraemer M, Gloaguen V. Structural characterization and cytotoxic properties of a 4-O-methylglucuronoxylan from Castanea sativa.  J Nat Prod. 2007;  70 60-66
• 18 Barbat A, Gloaguen V, Moine C, Sainte-Catherine O, Kraemer M, Rogniaux H, Ropartz D, Krausz P. Structural characterization and cytotoxic properties of a 4-O-methylglucuronoxylan from Castanea sativa. 2. Evidence of a structure-activity relationship.  J Nat Prod. 2008;  71 1404-1409
• 19 Valimaa A L, Honkalampi-Hamalainen U, Pietarinen S, Willför S, Holmbom B, von Wright A. Antimicrobial and cytotoxic knotwood extracts and related pure compounds and their effects on food-associated microorganisms.  Int J Food Microbiol. 2007;  115 235-243
• 20 Tian F, McLaughlin J L. Bioactive flavonoids from the black locust tree, Robinia pseudoacacia.  Pharm Biol. 2000;  38 229-234