Open AccessSynergistic Apoptotic Effects of Tocotrienol Isomers and Acalypha wilkesiana on A549 and U87MG Cancer Cells
Author(s) -
Ibrahim Babangida Abubakar,
Su-Wen Lim,
HweiSan Loh
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
tropical life sciences research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.313
H-Index - 16
eISSN - 2180-4249
pISSN - 1985-3718
DOI - 10.21315/tlsr2018.29.1.15
Subject(s) - traditional medicine , tocotrienol , chemistry , a549 cell , pharmacology , potency , apoptosis , antioxidant , medicine , biochemistry , vitamin e , in vitro , tocopherol
Recent studies suggested that combined treatment approaches can be used to improve anticancer potency and circumvent the limitations of high-dose tocotrienols administration. Acalypha wilkesiana is a medicinal plant that has been used as an adjunct treatment for cancers in traditional medicine. Herein, the effects of single and combined treatments of β-, γ- and δ-tocotrienols and ethyl acetate extract (9EA) of Acalypha wilkesiana on lung (A549) and brain (U87MG) cancer cells were investigated. γ- and δ-tocotrienols exhibited higher potent antiproliferative effects against A549 (12.1 μg/ml and 13.6 μg/ml) and U87MG cells (3.3 μg/ml and 5.2 μg/ml) compared to β-tocotrienols (9.4 μg/ml and 92.4 μg/ml), respectively. Whereas, 9EA induced potent antiproliferative effects against U87MG cells only (2.0 μg/ml). Combined treatments of tocotrienols and 9EA induced a synergistic growth inhibition with up to 8.4-fold reduction in potent doses of β-, γ- and δ-tocotrienols on A549 cells. Apoptotic features were also evidenced on A549 cells receiving single and combined treatments. The synergism may greatly improve the therapeutic outcome for lung cancer.