Anticancer potential of selected Fallopia Adans species

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the anticancer potential of three species belonging to the <i>Fallopia</i> genus (Polygonaceae): <i>Fallopia convolvulus</i> (<i>F. convolvulus</i>, <i>Fallopia dumetorum</i> (<i>F. dumetorum</i>) and <i>Fallopia aubertii</i> (<i>F. aubertii</i>). For this purpose, crude extracts were obtained and characterized for their phenolic and flavonoid total content and examined for their anticancer activity on three tumor cell lines: breast cancer (MCF7), colon carcinoma (Caco-2) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. The cytotoxic potential of the three species was assessed by MTT assay, cell cycle analysis and by the evaluation of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The acute toxicity of the extracts was evaluated using one <i>in vitro</i> cell model (Vero cells, an African Green monkey kidney cell line) and two invertebrate <i>in vivo</i> models (<i>Daphnia magna</i> and <i>Artemia salina</i>). The highest total phenolic and flavonoid content was found in the <i>F. aubertii</i> flower extracts. The cytotoxic effects of the extracts from <i>F. aubertii</i> and <i>F. convolvulus</i> on all three cell lines were examined at concentrations ranging from 3 to 300 µg/ml. G2/M cell cycle arrest was induced by all the extracts, and a significant increase in the subG1 cell population was observed. The hydroethanolic extract from the flowers of <i>F. aubertii</i> induced cell apoptosis more rapidly than the other extracts. The MMP indicates the involvement of the mitochondria in the induction of apoptosis. A positive correlation between the total phenolic content of the extracts and the IC₅₀ values against the HeLa cells was also noted. None of the extracts exhibited significantly toxic effects. Considering the antitumor potential of <i>F. aubertii</i> and <i>F. convolvulus</i>, these two species may represent a good source of plant extracts with anticancer properties.