Anticancer activity of Momordica cochinchinensis (red gac) aril and the impact of varietal diversity
Background: Momordica cochinchinensis (Cucurbitaceae) is a nutritionally and medicinally important fruit restricted to South East Asia with diverse morphological and genetic variations but there is limited information on its medicinal potential. Methods: M. cochinchinensis aril from 44 different...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
BioMed Central Ltd.
2020
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/26846/1/Anticancer%20activity%20of%20Momordica%20abstract.pdf https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/26846/2/Anticancer%20activity%20of%20Momordica.pdf https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/26846/ https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-03122-z |
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| Summary: | Background: Momordica cochinchinensis (Cucurbitaceae) is a nutritionally and medicinally important fruit restricted
to South East Asia with diverse morphological and genetic variations but there is limited information on its
medicinal potential.
Methods: M. cochinchinensis aril from 44 different samples in Australia, Thailand and Vietnam were extracted using
different solvents and tested for its anticancer potential. Anticancer activity of M. cochinchinensis aril on breast
cancer (MCF7 and BT474) and melanoma (MM418C1 and D24) cells were compared to control fibroblasts (NHDF).
The cytotoxicity of the cells following treatment with the aril extract was determined using CCK-8 assay.
Biochemical and morphological changes were analysed using flow cytometry, confocal and transmission electron
microscopy to determine the mechanism of cell death.
Results: The water extract from the aril of M. cochinchinensis elicited significantly higher cytotoxicity towards breast
cancer and melanoma cells than the HAE extract. The IC50 concentration for the crude water extract ranged from
0.49 to 0.73 mg/mL and induced both apoptotic and necrotic cell death in a dose- and time-dependant manner
with typical biochemical and morphological characteristics. The greatest cytotoxicity was observed from Northern
Vietnam samples which caused 70 and 50% melanoma and breast cancer cell death, respectively.
Conclusions: The water extract of M. cochinchinensis aril caused significant apoptosis and necrosis of breast cancer
and melanoma cells, with varieties from Northern Vietnam possessing superior activity. This highlights the potential
of this fruit in the development of novel anticancer agents against such tumours, with specific regions on where to
collect the best variety and extraction solvent for optimum activity. |
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