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dc.contributor.authorAttard, Everaldo
dc.contributor.authorCuschieri, Alfred
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-28T16:49:09Z
dc.date.available2017-05-28T16:49:09Z
dc.date.issued2004-06-01
dc.identifier.citationAttard, E., & Cuschieri, A. (2004). Cytotoxicity of Cucurbitacin E extracted from Ecballium elaterium in vitro. Journal of Natural Remedies, 4(2), 137-144.en_GB
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/19462
dc.description.abstractObjective: The objective of this present investigation was to determine the effects of Cucurbitacin E (CuE) extracted from Ecballium elaterium A.Rich., Fam. Cucurbitaceae, on three cancer cell lines (breast, prostate and melanoma) and a normal transformed cell line (fibroblasts), compared to other cytotoxic agents. Methods: Cytotoxicity was assessed by an array of assays including total and viable count determinations, lactate dehydrogenase enzyme release, morphological changes, effects on mitochondrial metabolism, agarose gel electrophoresis for apoptotic changes, median inhibitory concentration determination and interaction studies. Results: CuE exhibited a marked effect on prostate adenocarcinoma cells at a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 9.35 nM and moderate effects on melanoma and breast carcinoma cells (IC50 = 0.87 and 1.95 μM, respectively). Parameters that showed a reduction in cell viability were prominent with the compound, as compared to the controls. Morphologically, the cancer cells exhibited nuclear and cytoplasmic (N/C) changes such as condensation of chromatin, an increase in the N/C ratio, and rounding up of the cytoplasm. Surface blebbing and morphological signs of apoptosis occurred in all cancer cell types. In the agarose-gel electrophoresis analysis, DNA ladder characteristic of apoptosis, was exhibited by the CuE treatment on both prostate and breast cancer cell lines, as for tamoxifen and mesterolone, respectively. Negligible cytotoxic effects were observed on normal fibroblasts as compared to the control. Conclusion: Owing to its chemical structure, CuE can be used as a lead drug in the development of cytotoxic agents with low toxicity on normal cells.en_GB
dc.language.isoenen_GB
dc.publisherNatural Remedies Pvt Ltd.en_GB
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessen_GB
dc.subjectCucurbitalesen_GB
dc.subjectCell proliferationen_GB
dc.subjectCytotoxicity, Immunologicen_GB
dc.subjectApoptosisen_GB
dc.titleCytotoxicity of Cucurbitacin E extracted from Ecballium elaterium in vitroen_GB
dc.typearticleen_GB
dc.rights.holderThe copyright of this work belongs to the author(s)/publisher. The rights of this work are as defined by the appropriate Copyright Legislation or as modified by any successive legislation. Users may access this work and can make use of the information contained in accordance with the Copyright Legislation provided that the author must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the prior permission of the copyright holder.en_GB
dc.description.reviewedpeer-revieweden_GB
dc.identifier.doi10.18311/jnr/2004/177
Appears in Collections:Scholarly Works - InsESRSF

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