Antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of abrus precatorius against human monocytic leukaemia (THP-1) cell line

Abstract

Considering the significant potential of many natural products as anticancer agents, the present investigation was undertaken to explore the anticancer potential of Abrus precatorius. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to two active fractions, APH-11 and APM-3 exhibiting IC50 values of 14.64±1.84 and 20.90±3.58 µg/ml, respectively against the human acute monocytic leukemia cell line. In vitro cytotoxicity of APH-11 and APM-3 against the human acute monocytic leukemia cell line was compared with that against peritoneal macrophages and HEK 293 cells. These fractions significantly induced apoptosis, as evaluated by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling assay. Accumulation of cells at sub-G0/G1 phase was demonstrated by cell cycle analysis. Western blot analysis further revealed that the cell death induced by APH-11 and APM-3 fractions occurred through apoptosis involving caspase-3/-7 and PARP cleavage. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry study was carried out for the identification of metabolites in these fractions. The overall results provided evidence that fractions from A. precatorius induced cell death of the human acute monocytic leukemia cell line through apoptosis.