Anti Proliferative Properties of Ethanolic and Aqueous Graviola Leaf Extracts on Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line-25

Abstract

Background:Annona   muricata, commonly   known   asGraviola,soursop   or guanabana, is an evergreen tree native to the tropics with a long history of use in  ethnomedicine  in  indigenous  communities  in  Africa  and  South  America.  Its active   phytoconstituents   have   provided   medicinal   benefits   against   various ailments  and  diseases such  as  arthritis,  parasitic  infection,  hypertension,  fever, or diabetes.Studies conducted in vitroand in vivohave concluded that Graviola phytocomponents  have  anti-cancer  and  anti-tumor  properties.One  of  the characteristics  of  cancer  cells  is their  uncontrolled  proliferation  rate.  In  that sense,  molecules  that  inhibit  cell  proliferation  offer  potential  therapeutical benefits.

Methods:We  prepared  ethanolic  and  aqueous  extracts  from  dried  Graviola leaves   and   tested   their   respective   antiproliferative   activities   on   tongue Squamous  Cell  Carcinoma  cell  line-25.  We  treated  the  cells  with  increasing concentrations  of  the  extracts  for  24  h.  The  respective  doses  leading  to  a  50% inhibition of cells growth (GI50) were determined.

Results:Our results showed that the ethanolic extract was 4 times more active in  inhibiting  the  growth  of  Squamous  Cell  Carcinoma  cell  line-25  than  the aqueous extract (respective GI50of 61.7 g/mL, and 274.6 g/mL).

Conclusion:We  hypothesize  that  some  organiccompounds  involved  in  the antiproliferative/cytotoxicity  of  Graviola  leaves  were  selectively  extracted  by Ethanol.  Future  plans  include  characterizing  those  bioactive  compounds  and assessing   their   activity   on  Squamous  Cell  Carcinoma  cell  line-25   vs.   non-cancerous  oral  cells.  Our  hope  is  to  discover  natural  molecules  to  be  used  as alternative treatments for oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas.