Evaluating the efficacy of ethanolic lemongrass extract (citratus cympbopogon) in treatment of colon cancer and drug-drug interactions of lemongrass extract and chemotherapeutics for treatment of colon cancer
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Presentation
Faculty
Faculty of Science
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Siyaram Pandey
Proposal
Cancerous cells have certain vulnerabilities that can be targeted by therapeutic cancer treatments. Chemotherapeutics, which are conventional treatments for a wide range of cancers exhibit toxicity towards non-cancerous cells, which cause a plethora of side effects that reduce the patient’s quality of life. Natural extracts have been shown to selectively target cancerous cells. Specifically, we have shown that lemongrass extract (Cymbopogon citratus) can induce apoptosis in in-vitro and in-vivo leukemia and lymphoma models. Ethanolic lemongrass extract is investigated here for its efficacy and anti-cancerous properties in colon cancer models. Cell viability was reduced after treatment with varying concentrations of ethanolic lemongrass extract, without a negative effect on a non-cancerous colon cancer cell line. Drug-drug interactions between lemongrass extract and chemotherapy drugs, namely FOLFOX (5-fluorouracil, folinic acid, and oxaliplatin) and Taxol, were not disruptive, showing that cell death either remained the same or was slightly increased in combination treatment groups compared to individual treatment groups. Further research is being conducted to elucidate the mechanism of apoptosis induction, specifically looking at reactive oxidative stress (ROS) production, activation of the caspase pathway, and mitochondrial membrane potential.
Location
Essex Hall, University of Windsor
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Evaluating the efficacy of ethanolic lemongrass extract (citratus cympbopogon) in treatment of colon cancer and drug-drug interactions of lemongrass extract and chemotherapeutics for treatment of colon cancer
Essex Hall, University of Windsor
Cancerous cells have certain vulnerabilities that can be targeted by therapeutic cancer treatments. Chemotherapeutics, which are conventional treatments for a wide range of cancers exhibit toxicity towards non-cancerous cells, which cause a plethora of side effects that reduce the patient’s quality of life. Natural extracts have been shown to selectively target cancerous cells. Specifically, we have shown that lemongrass extract (Cymbopogon citratus) can induce apoptosis in in-vitro and in-vivo leukemia and lymphoma models. Ethanolic lemongrass extract is investigated here for its efficacy and anti-cancerous properties in colon cancer models. Cell viability was reduced after treatment with varying concentrations of ethanolic lemongrass extract, without a negative effect on a non-cancerous colon cancer cell line. Drug-drug interactions between lemongrass extract and chemotherapy drugs, namely FOLFOX (5-fluorouracil, folinic acid, and oxaliplatin) and Taxol, were not disruptive, showing that cell death either remained the same or was slightly increased in combination treatment groups compared to individual treatment groups. Further research is being conducted to elucidate the mechanism of apoptosis induction, specifically looking at reactive oxidative stress (ROS) production, activation of the caspase pathway, and mitochondrial membrane potential.