Cancer Cell International (Oct 2011)

Leaf extracts from <it>Nitraria retusa </it>promote cell population growth of human cancer cells by inducing apoptosis

  • Bouhlel Ines,
  • Sghaier Mohamed,
  • Bhouri Wissem,
  • Boubaker Jihed,
  • Skandrani Ines,
  • Ghedira Kamel,
  • Chekir-Ghedira Leila

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2867-11-37
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
p. 37

Abstract

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Abstract Background In this report the phytochemical profile of Nitraria. Retusa (N. Retusa) leaf extracts were identified and their ability to induce apoptosis in human chronic myelogenous erythroleukaemia (K562) was evaluated. Methods Apoptosis of the human chronic myelogenous erythroleukaemia (K562) was evidenced by investigating DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage and caspases 3 and 8 inducing activities, in the presence of N. retusa extracts. Results Our study revealed that the tested extracts from N. Retusa contain many useful bioactive compounds. They induced in a time-dependent manner the apoptosis the tested cancerous our cell line. This result was confirmed by ladder DNA fragmentation profile and PARP cleavage, as well as a release in caspase-3 and caspase-8 level. Conclusion Our results indicate that the tested compounds have a significant antiproliferative effect which may be due to their involvement in the induction of the extrinsic apoptosic pathway.