Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ANTICANCER EFFECT OF CITRULLUS COLOCYNTHIS AND CAPPARIS SPINOSA AGAINST HUMAN CERVIX AND HEPATOCELLULAR CANCER CELL LINES

Haifa Abdulaziz S. Alhaithloul, Mohamed A. Abdein and Nabil S. Awad

Abstract

The current work aims to assess the anticancer effect of Citrullus colocynthis, Capparis spinose against human Cervix (Hela) and hepatocellular (Huh7) cancer cell lines and understand the mode of action at molecular level via gene expression and cell cycle analysis. The Methanolic extracts were prepared. Antioxidant activities and Phytochemical screening of every extract were estimated. To measure cytotoxicity, MTT test was employed, and Annexin/propidium iodide (PI) staining was used to measure apoptosis induction and change in gene expression level was detected by Real Time PCR (qPCR). Obtained findings explained anticancer potential of both Citrullus colocynthis and Capparis spinosa methanolic extracts against cervical and hepatocellular carcinoma. The anticancer effect of Citrullus colocynthis was higher than Capparis spinosa extract. This effect might be due to the role TPC and TFC through induction of apoptotic pathways influenced by upregulation of p3 and p21 genes. These results may help expand the importance of the Citrullus colocynthis and Capparis spinosa; and may be regarded in the detection of new anticancer compounds.