Anti-cancer activity of Methanolic extraction from lemon leaves (Citrus limon L.)

Abstract

Breast cancer stem cell line MCF-7-SC, isolated from MCF-7 breast cancer cells, shows anoikis resistant characteristics. In this study, methanolic extraction from lemon leaves (MLL) was assessed for its anti-cancer activity in anoikis-resistant breast cancer stem cell MCF-7-SC. MLL induced apoptosis in MCF-7-SC as evidenced by an increase of apoptotic body formation, increased sub-G1 cell population, increased Annexin V-positive cells, increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, proteolytic activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and the degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein. Therefore, it might be useful as a medicinal plant for alternative novel anticancer drugs and nutraceutical products.

Key words: anoikis, apoptosis, cancer stem cells, lemon leaf