Anticancer effects of herbal medicine Emelia-M, Mshikazi and Delosma H against human leukaemia cells

Abstract

Background: Leukaemia is one of the three major types of blood cancers that lead to the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells. Emelia M (EMB), Mshikazi and Delosma H are herbal medicines that are being used by traditional healers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa to treat leukaemia and other diseases.

Objectives: To gain insight into the safety (non-toxic effect), anti-cancer activity, mechanisms of action and phytochemical profiles of traditional herbal medicines (Emelia M (EMB), Mshikazi and Delosma H) in South Africa.

Methods: The viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), monocytic (THP-1) and T-lymphocyte (Jurkat) cell lines exposed to varying concentrations of aqueous extracts of the three herbal medicines were assessed using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay.

Results: All three extracts showed a dose-dependent effect on the viability of PBMCs. Cell viability decreased with increasing concentrations of extracts when compared with the untreated cells at 24 and 48 hours. The inhibitory activities (IC50) of the extract were found in the order of Mshikazi > EMB, > Delosma H. All the extracts induced apoptosis with minimal necrosis. Many bioactive compounds that have been previously reported to have anticancer effects were identified in the extracts.

Conclusion: Mshikazi extract significantly inhibited the growth of THP-1 and Jurkat cells and induced cell death through apoptosis than the other two extracts.

Keywords: Leukaemia; apoptosis; phytochemical compounds; traditional herbal medicines.

Figure 1

Effect of varying concentrations of Delosma H extract on the viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at (a) 24 h (b) 48 h

Figure S1

Effect of varying concentrations of Mshikazi extract on the viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at (a) 24 hours (b) 48 hours

Figure S2

The effect of EMB extract on the viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (a) 24 hours (b) 48 hours

Figure 2

The changes in viability of THP-1 monocyte cells at (a) 6 hours (b) 24 hours (c) 48 hours incubation with an (IC50) value for Delosma H (2268.7µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure 3

The changes in viability of Jurkat lymphocytes cells at (a) 6 hours (b) 24 hours (c) 48 hours incubation with an (IC50) for Delosma H (2268.7 µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure 4

The changes in cell viability of THP-1 monocytes cells at (a) 6 hours (b) 24 hours (c) 48 hours incubation with an (IC50) value for Mshikazi (134.3µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure 5

The changes in viability of Jurkat lymphocytes cells at (a) 6 hours (b) 24 hours (c) 48 hours incubation with an (IC50) value for Mshikazi (134.3µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure 6

The changes in viability of THP-1 monocytes cells at (a) 6 hours (b) 24 hours (c) 48 hours incubation with an (IC50) value for Emelia M (EMB) (1954.0 µg/mL) and the positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure 7

The changes in cell viability of Jurkat lymphocytes cells at (a) 6 h (b) 24 h (c) 48 h incubation with an (IC50) value for Emelia M (EMB) (1954.0µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure S3

Caspase 3/7 activity of THP-1 monocyte for (a) 24 hours, (b) 48 hours incubation with (IC50) of Delomas H (2268.7 µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure S4

Caspase 3/7 activity of Jurkat lymphocytes for (a) 24 hours, (b) 48 hours incubation with (IC50) of Delomas H (2268.7 µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure S5

Caspase 3/7 activity of THP-1 monocyte for (a) 6 h (b) 24 hours (c) 48 hours incubation with (IC50)of Mshikazi (134.3 µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure S6

Caspase 3/7 activity of Jurkat lymphocytes for (a) 6 h (b) 24 hours (c) 48 hours incubation with (IC50) of Mshikazi (134.3 µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure S7

Caspase 3/7 activity of THP-1 monocyte for (a) 24 hours, (b) 48 hours incubation with EMB (1954.0 µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure S8

Caspase 3/7 activity of Jurkat lymphocytes for (a) 24 hours, (b) 48 hours incubation with EMB (1954.0 µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure S9

Caspase 8 activity on (a) THP-1 monocyte and (b) Jurkat lymphocyte cells after 6 hours incubation with (IC50) of Delosma H extracts (2268.7 µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure S10

Caspase 8 activity on (a) THP-1 monocyte and (b) Jurkat lymphocyte cells after 6 hours incubation with (IC50) Mshikazi, (134.3 µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure S11

Effect of caspase 8 activity on (a) THP-1 monocyte and (b) Jurkat lymphocyte cells after 6 hours incubation with (IC50) of EMB (1954.0 µg/mL) and positive control (Taxol 20 µM)

Figure 8

Hoechst/ propidium iodide staining of THP-1 cells at 24 and 48 hours of incubation. (a) Untreated, (b) Delosma H, (c) Taxol and (d) DMSO

Figure 9

Hoechst/ propidium iodide staining of Jurkat cells at 24 and 48 hours of incubation. (a) Untreated, (b) Delosma H, (c) Taxol and (d) DMSO

Figure S12

Hoechst/ propidium iodide staining of THP-1 cells at 24 hours and 48 hours of incubation. (a) Untreated, (b) Mshikazi (c) Taxol and (d) DMSO

Figure S13

Hoechst/ propidium iodide staining of Jurkat cells at 24 hours and 48 hours of incubation. (a) Untreated, (b) Mshikazi (c) Taxol and (d) DMSO

Figure S14

Hoechst/ propidium iodide staining of THP-1 cells at 24 hours and 48 hours of incubation. (a) Untreated, (b) EMB (c) Taxol and (d) DMSO

Figure S15

Hoechst/ propidium iodide staining of Jurkat cells at 24 hours and 48 hours of incubation. (a) Untreated, (b) EMB (c) Taxol and (d) DMSO

Figure 10

Gate strategy for the flow analysis of EMB, Mshikazi and Delosma H on THP-1 and Jurkat cells

Figure 11

Mass spectra of a) syrosingopine in EMB and Delosma H, b) gamabufotalin in Mshikazi and Delosma H and c) digitoxin in EMB and Mshikazi traditional herbal medicines