Hatice Bekci

Prostate cancer is a growing health problem around the world. Although there are different therapeutic methods, none of them possessed complete efficacy up to now. Therefore, discovery of novel anti-cancer drugs is important. Bitter melon (Momordicacharantia L.) and Goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) as functional foods may prevent prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the effects of ripe and unripe fruit (peel and pulp), seed and aril extracts of bitter melon and also black and red fruit extracts of L. Barbarum on cancer cell viability. In vitro cytotoxicity activities of the extracts (0–150 µg/mL) against androgen dependent (LnCAP) and independent (PC-3) prostate cancer cell lines were screened by MTT assay. Our results reveal that, all tested extracts exhibited cytotoxic activity towards the investigated tumour cells and bitter melon seed extract was the most effective extracts having an IC₅₀ value of 14.7 µg/mL for LnCAP cells. The overall findings demonstrate that specially seed extract of bitter melon, could be a potential source of a new anti-cancer compound and serve as a possible drug against prostate cancer.

Cancer cells are refractory to most forms of chemotherapy. Conventional and alternative drugs, such as herbal extracts, have been developed to target cancer cells. This study aims to test the cytotoxic effects of Pelargonium endlicherianum root extracts on prostate cancer cells. In vitro cytotoxic activities of the methanolic and ethanolic root extracts (0–150 µg/mL) were screened against androgen dependent independent (PC-3) prostate cancer cell lines by MTT assay. Ethanolic root extract induced a significant decrease in cell viability characterized by 100 < IC50 < 150 µg/mL. The results of this study support the efficacy of P. endlicherianum as an anticancer agent for prostate cancer and a potential adjuvant treatment to current chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of prostate tumors. Further studies of the effects of individual flavonoids alone and in combination with each other and with currently used therapies are needed.

Herbal medicines have been used in cancer treatment, with many exhibiting favorable side effect and toxicity profiles compared with conventional chemotherapeutic agents. The aim of this study was to verify whether Lycium barbarum fruit (red and black fruit) extracts inhibit proliferation of MDA-MB-231cells through EGFR/ERK pathway. Cytotoxicity with MTT reduction assay and phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK were analyzed by western blot. IC50 values were 87.0 and 79.4 µg/mL for goji berry black fruit extract (GBBFE) and goji berry red fruit extract (GBRFE) expectively. Pretreatment with both extract inhibited phosphorylation of EGFR/ERK in EGF-treated cells. Goji berry fruit extracts cause cellular death of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells by inhibiting EGFR/ERK signaling and this study suggests that Goji berry fruit extracts could be beneficial for treating breast cancer.