Cactus and lupin extracts as prospective anticancer agents compared with utoral drug

The ethanolic extracts of many plants have been used in alternative medicine. The present study aimed at evaluating the antioxidant, cytotoxicity, and anticancer potential of cactus and lupin ethanolic extracts compared to utoral drug (UT) on the colon Caco-2 cancer cell line. Bioactive components, cytotoxicity of Caco-2 cell cycle, and gene regulation of apoptosis genes were studied by HPLC, flow cytometer, and RT-PCR, respectively. Lupin extract (LE) contained high bioactive components and antioxidant potential. The predominant phenol, flavonoid, and sterol in LE were rosmarinic acid (2,004.8 μg/ml), quercetin (9,912 µg/g), and ergosterol (2.77 µg/g). LE and its mixture with utoral showed high cytotoxicity and effective potential in regulation of gene expression of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic genes in Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, LE and cactus extract (CE) could be considered as natural preparations with high anticancer properties against Caco-2 cells. LE had the highest anticancer potential among the tested preparations. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The study demonstrated that lupine and cactus extracts have high potential as anticancer substances. These natural extracts can be used to prepare therapeutic mixtures or foods.

Keywords: RT-PCR; anticancer; antioxidant; apoptosis; flow cytometry.