Terry Roberts
Kings College London, Uk
Title: Extracts from graviola transcriptionally inhibits the expression of receptors in breast cancer cells
Biography
Biography: Terry Roberts
Abstract
Statement of the problem: Annonaceous acetogenins extracted from plants of the genera Annona, which includes the species Annona muricata (also known as soursop, graviola and guanabana) are known to have anti-cancer properties. Several published articles, dating back as far as the 1990’s, have shown that acetogenins extracted from the leaves, fruit and seeds can kill breast, prostate, pancreas, skin and liver cancer cells in vitro and invivo. CRUK has mentioned that there have not been any large scale studies in humans on the use of graviola for cancer therapy and no substantial evidence of its anti-cancer activity exists. Therefore our aim is to identify and purify the most active anti-cancer product in crude soursop extracts. We will then test these products on normal and cancer cell lines.
Methodology and Theoretical Orientation: An extract was prepared from crushed soursop seeds, it was then subjected to flash chromatography. 6 separate extract fractions were identified. These fractions were tested for bioactivity against the breast cancer cell line 21NT and a normal cell line, HMEC. We found that fractions II and III were approximately 106x more active against cancer cells. HPLC was then used to purify the active compound from fraction II. The HPLC purified compound was then used to treat breast cancer cells for 48 hours, RNA and protein was extracted and used to identify targets that were modulated by the compound.
Conclusion and Significance: This compound was shown to be a transcriptional inhibitor of EGFR and LDH, both of which are important for the rapid growth of cancer cells.