Cytotoxic Effects of Pinnatane A Extracted from Walsura pinnata (Meliaceae) on Human Liver Cancer Cells

• Main Authors: Zakaria, Nurhisyam, Mahdzir, Mohamad, Yusoff, Mahfuzah, Arshad, Norhafiza Mohd, Awang, Khalijah, Nagoor, Noor Hasima
• Format: Article
• Published: MDPI 2018
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QD Chemistry; QH Natural history
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/20186/; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23112733

Background: Pinnatane A from the bark of Walsura pinnata was investigated for its anti-cancer properties by analyzing the cytotoxic activities and cell cycle arrest mechanism induced in two different liver cancer cell lines. Methods: A 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to analyze the pinnatane A selectivity in inducing cell death in cancer and normal cells. Various biological assays were carried out to analyze the anti-cancer properties of pinnatane A, such as a live/dead assay for cell death microscopic visualization, cell cycle analysis using propidium iodide (PI) to identify the cell cycle arrest phase, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (annexin V-FITC)/PI flow cytometry assay to measure percentage of cell populations at different stages of apoptosis and necrosis, and DNA fragmentation assay to verify the late stage of apoptosis. Results: The MTT assay identified pinnatane A prominent dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity effects in Hep3B and HepG2 cells, with minimal effect on normal cells. The live/dead assay showed significant cell death, while cell cycle analysis showed arrest at the G0/G1 phase in both cell lines. Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation assays identified apoptotic cell death in Hep3B and necrotic cell death in HepG2 cell lines. Conclusions: Pinnatane A has the potential for further development as a chemotherapeutic agent prominently against human liver cells.