Antiproliferative Properties of Clausine-B against Cancer Cell Lines.

BACKGROUND

CLAUSINE B, A CARBAZOLE ALKALOID ISOLATED FROM THE STEM BARK OF CLAUSENA EXCAVATA, WAS INVESTIGATED FOR ITS ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITIES AGAINST FIVE HUMAN CANCER CELL LINES: HepG2 (hepatic cancer), MCF-7 (hormone-dependent breast cancer), MDA-MB-231 (non-hormone-dependent breast cancer), HeLa (cervical cancer), and CAOV3 (ovarian cancer).

METHODS

Chang liver (normal cells) was used as a control. The effect of clausine-B was measured using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay.

RESULTS

Clausine-B was found to be active (IC(50)<30 μg/mL) against four of the cancer cell lines tested. The IC(50) values for these four lines were: 21.50 μg/mL (MDA-MB-231), 22.90 g/ml (HeLa), 27.00 μg/mL (CAOV3) and 28.94 μg/mL (HepG2). Clausine-B inhibited the MCF-7 cancer cell line at 52.90 μg/mL, and no IC(50) value was obtained against Chang liver.

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible that the phenolic group in clausine-B responsible for the antiproliferative activities found in this study.