Assessment of Anticancer Properties of Argemone mexicana L. and Berberine: A Comparative Study
Author:
Elizondo-Luevano Joel H.1ORCID, Quintanilla-Licea Ramiro1ORCID, Monroy-García Imelda N.2ORCID, Kačániová Miroslava34ORCID, Castillo-Velázquez Uziel5ORCID, Bazaldúa-Rodríguez Aldo F.1, Garza-Vega Lourdes M.1ORCID, Torres-Hernández Ángel D.6ORCID, Chávez-Montes Abelardo1ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Department of Chemistry, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas (FCB), Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, Nuevo León, Mexico 2. Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico de Los Mochis, Tecnológico Nacional de México (ITLM—TecNM), Juan de Dios Bátiz y 20 de Noviembre, Los Mochis 81259, Sinaloa, Mexico 3. Institute of Horticulture, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia 4. School of Medical & Health Sciences, University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw, Okopowa 59, 01 043 Warszawa, Poland 5. Department of Immunology, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UANL, Ex Hacienda del Cañada, Cd. General Escobedo C.P. 66054, Nuevo León, Mexico 6. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, FCB, UANL, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, Nuevo León, Mexico
Abstract
Argemone mexicana L. has been used in traditional Mexican medicine. Among its bioactive constituents, berberine (BER) has garnered attention for its cytotoxic properties against different tumor cell lines. This study investigates the in vitro toxicity against HEP-G2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) and murine lymphoma (L5178Y-R) cells using the MTT assay of the methanol extract (AmexM), sub-partitions of A. mexicana, and BER. Selectivity indices (SIs) were determined by comparing their cytotoxic effects on VERO (monkey kidney epithelial) and PBMC (human peripheral blood mononuclear) non-tumoral cells. Additionally, the anti-hemolytic effect of these treatments was assessed using the AAPH method. The treatment with the most promising activity against tumor cells and anti-hemolytic efficacy underwent further evaluation for toxicity in Artemia salina and antioxidant activities using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. BER demonstrated an IC50 = 56.86 µg/mL in HEP-G2 cells and IC50 < 5.0 µg/mL in L5178Y-R cells, with SI values of 15.97 and >5.40 in VERO and PBMC cells, respectively. No significant hemolytic effects were observed, although AmexM and BER exhibited the highest anti-hemolytic activity. BER also demonstrated superior antioxidant efficacy, with lower toxicity in A. salina nauplii compared to the control. Additionally, BER significantly attenuated nitric oxide production. This study highlights the antiproliferative effects of A. mexicana, particularly BER, against HEP-G2 and L5178Y-R tumor cell lines, along with its selectivity towards normal cells. Furthermore, its anti-hemolytic and antioxidant potentials were demonstrated, suggesting that BER is a promising candidate for potent chemotherapeutic agents.
Funder
Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT) of Mexico CONAHCYT Slovak Research and Development Agency Sistema Nacional de Investigadoras e Investigadores (SNII) México
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