Hibiscus sabdariffa Leaf Polyphenolic Extract Induces Human Melanoma Cell Death, Apoptosis, and Autophagy

• Published in: Journal of food science Vol. 80; no. 3; pp. H649 - H658
• Main Authors: Chiu, Chun-Tang, Hsuan, Shu-Wen, Lin, Hui-Hsuan, Hsu, Cheng-Chin, Chou, Fen-Pi, Chen, Jing-Hsien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Activation; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - therapeutic use; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins - metabolism; Autophagy; Autophagy - drug effects; Autophagy-Related Protein 5; Beclin-1; Cancer; Caspases - metabolism; Catechin - analogs & derivatives; Catechin - pharmacology; Catechin - therapeutic use; Cell death; Cell Line, Tumor; Control; epicatechin gallate; fas Receptor - metabolism; Herbal medicine; Hibiscus - chemistry; Hibiscus sabdariffa; Hibiscus sabdariffa leaf; Human; Humans; Melanoma; Melanoma - drug therapy; Melanoma - metabolism; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Microtubule-Associated Proteins - metabolism; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plant Leaves - chemistry; polyphenol; Polyphenols - pharmacology; Polyphenols - therapeutic use; Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; Skin cancer; apoptosis; melanoma; Hibiscus sabdariffa leaf; autophagy; polyphenol; epicatechin gallate
• ISSN: 0022-1147; 1750-3841
• DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.12790

Melanoma is the least common but most fatal form of skin cancer. Previous studies have indicated that an aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa leaves possess hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects. In this study, we want to investigate the anticancer activity of Hibiscus leaf polyphenolic (HLP) extract in melanoma cells. First, HLP was exhibited to be rich in epicatechin gallate (ECG) and other polyphenols. Apoptotic and autophagic activities of HLP and ECG were further evaluated by DAPI stain, cell‐cycle analysis, and acidic vascular organelle (AVO) stain. Our results revealed that both HLP and ECG induced the caspases cleavages, Bcl‐2 family proteins regulation, and Fas/FasL activation in A375 cells. In addition, we also revealed that the cells presented AVO‐positive after HLP treatments. HLP could increase the expressions of autophagy‐related proteins autophagy‐related gene 5 (ATG5), Beclin1, and light chain 3‐II (LC3‐II), and induce autophagic cell death in A375 cells. These data indicated that the anticancer effect of HLP, partly contributed by ECG, in A375 cells. HLP potentially could be developed as an antimelanoma agent. Practical Application This research showed that HLP induced human melanoma cell death through dual regulation of apoptosis and autophagy pathways. These data demonstrated that HLP may be a good agent for antimelanoma, and developed a novel strategy on human skin cancer treatment in the future.