Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC phytochemicals induce apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation signaling pathways, EMT, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and stem cell markers in melanoma cell lines

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 312; p. 116472
• Main Authors: Choudhari, Jasoda, Nimma, Ramakrishna, Nimal, Snehal K., Totakura Venkata, Santosh Kumar, Kundu, Gopal C., Gacche, Rajesh N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 10.08.2023
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Animal model; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Apoptosis; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; EMT; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Female; Humans; LC-ESI-MS/MS; Melanoma - drug therapy; Melanoma cancer; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Phytochemicals; Prosopis; Prosopis juliflora; Signal Transduction; Signaling pathways; Stem cells; Stem Cells - metabolism; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; PJLME; Animal model; DMSO; PARP; Prosopis juliflora; MTT; EMT; H2DCFH-DA; LC-ESI-MS/MS; Signaling pathways; Angiogenesis; DMEM; SDS-PAGE; FITC; Phytochemicals; Melanoma cancer; Stem cells; PI; RPMI; HUVECs
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116472

Prosopis juliflora (Sw.), DC is a xerophytic plant species that extensively grow in Asia, Africa, Australia, and Brazil. From ancient time P. juliflora is being utilized in various folk remedies for example in wound healing, fever, inflammation, measles, excrescences, diarrhea and dysentery. Traditionally, gum, paste, and smoke obtained from the leaves and pods are applied for anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial purposes. Our previous studies have demonstrated the promising potential of Prosopis Juliflora leaves methanol extract (PJLME) against breast cancer, and suggested its possible integration as a complementary medicine for the effective management of breast cancer. However, evidence against how PJLME mechanistically target the cancer proliferative pathways and other targets is poorly understood. The basic aim of the present study was to understand the anti-melanoma potential of PJLME against B16f10 cells with possible mechanisms of action. MTT assay was used to determine cell viability. Wound and transwell migration assay was performed to check migration potential of cells after PJLME treatment, while clonogenic assay was carried out to understand its colony inhibition actvity. Flow cytometry was used to perform annexin V/PI assay (apoptosis assay), ROS assay, cell cycle analysis. In-vitro angiogenesis assay was performed to check formation of capillary like vascular structure after PJLME treatment. Apoptotic genes, signaling pathways markers, EMT markers and stem cell markers were determined by western blotting. In-vivo BALB/C mice xenograft model study was performed to check the effect of PJLME on in-vivo melanoma tumor growth. The experimental outcome of the present study has clearly demonstrated the inhibition of growth, migration, invasion, colony formation and apoptosis inducing potential of PJLME against mouse melanoma cancer cells. Treatment of B16F10 melanoma cells with PJLME resulted in arrest of cell cycle at G0/G1 phase. Annexin V-FITC/PI assay confirmed the apoptosis inducing potential of PJLME in B16F10 and A375 melanoma cells. Furthermore, Western blot experiments confirmed that the treatment of PJLME downregulates the expression of anti-apoptotic gene like Bcl2 and increase the expression profile of pro-apoptotic genes like Bax, Bad, and Bak in B16F10 melanoma cells. HUVEC (Human umbilical vein endothelial cells) tube formation assay clearly demonstrated the anti-angiogenic potential of PJLME. The study also revealed that PJLME has potential to inhibit the Akt and Erk signaling pathways which are participating in cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion etc. The outcome of qRT-PCR and immunoblotting analysis clearly unveiled that PJLME treatment leads to downregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as well as stem cell markers. Finally, the in-vivo animal xenograft model study also revealed the anti-melanoma potential of PJLME by significantly inhibiting the B16F10 melanoma tumor growth in BALB/c mice model. The LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of PJLME showed the presence of variety of bioactive molecules associated with anticancer effects. The outcome of the present investigation clearly demonstrated the anti-melanoma potential of PJLME against B16f10 melanoma cells. PJLME can be explored as an adjuvant or complementary therapy against melanoma cancer, however further studies are required to understand the clinical efficacy of PJLME. Nevertheless, it can be further explored as a promising resource for identification of novel anticancer candidate drug. [Display omitted] •Since ancient time Prosopis juliflora has been used as a folk remedy against human ailments.•The present study has demonstrated the impressive anti-melanoma actvity of Prosopis juliflora leaves methanolic extract (PJLME).•PJLME has demonstrated the target oriented anti-melanoma activity by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting signaling pathways and EMT markers.•The anti-melanoma potential of PJLME was conformed using in-vivo BALB/c animal model study.•The LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of PJLME showed the presence of variety of bioactive molecules associated with anticancer effects.