Hibiscus flower extract selectively induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells and positively interacts with common chemotherapeutics
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Presentation
Faculty
Faculty of Science
Proposal
The complexity and difficulty of breast cancer treatment increases drastically once the disease becomes metastatic. Current therapeutic approaches to treat metastatic breast cancer, although effective, have shown many inadvertent side effects such as genotoxicity due to a lack of selectivity. Thus, these treatment plans are not suitable for long-term usage. Natural health product extracts are safe for long-term consumption and some have shown to be medicinally active containing multiple bioactive compounds that are able to target multiple vulnerabilities in cancer. Hibiscus rosa-sinesis (hibiscus) extract reported to have many medicinal and anti-cancer properties along with further investigation and characterizations to determine its efficacy against breast cancer. If effective against cancer, hibiscus extract combined with chemotherapeutic treatments in adjuvant therapy could reduce chemotherapy-inducing side effects. Investigation is critical to determine the interaction of hibiscus extract with chemotherapeutics to assess the effect of combinatorial treatments. In this study, we have investigated and assessed aqueous hibiscus flower extract for its anti-cancer efficacy, selectivity, and interactions with common chemotherapeutics in breast cancer. Hibiscus extract selectively induced apoptosis in both triple-negative and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells in a dosage-dependent manner. Most importantly, addition of hibiscus extract enhanced the induction of apoptosis of chemotherapy treatments (taxol and cisplatin) in triple-negative breast cancer cells when compared to treatment alone. Moreover, hibiscus extract addition to chemotherapy treatment was able to increase oxidative stress and decrease mitochondrial membrane potential compared to individual treatments. Thus, hibiscus extract could supplement chemotherapeutic regimens as an adjuvant and lead to a more efficacious treatment approach to reduce chemotherapy dosages and related toxicity.
Location
University of Windsor
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Hibiscus flower extract selectively induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells and positively interacts with common chemotherapeutics
University of Windsor
The complexity and difficulty of breast cancer treatment increases drastically once the disease becomes metastatic. Current therapeutic approaches to treat metastatic breast cancer, although effective, have shown many inadvertent side effects such as genotoxicity due to a lack of selectivity. Thus, these treatment plans are not suitable for long-term usage. Natural health product extracts are safe for long-term consumption and some have shown to be medicinally active containing multiple bioactive compounds that are able to target multiple vulnerabilities in cancer. Hibiscus rosa-sinesis (hibiscus) extract reported to have many medicinal and anti-cancer properties along with further investigation and characterizations to determine its efficacy against breast cancer. If effective against cancer, hibiscus extract combined with chemotherapeutic treatments in adjuvant therapy could reduce chemotherapy-inducing side effects. Investigation is critical to determine the interaction of hibiscus extract with chemotherapeutics to assess the effect of combinatorial treatments. In this study, we have investigated and assessed aqueous hibiscus flower extract for its anti-cancer efficacy, selectivity, and interactions with common chemotherapeutics in breast cancer. Hibiscus extract selectively induced apoptosis in both triple-negative and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells in a dosage-dependent manner. Most importantly, addition of hibiscus extract enhanced the induction of apoptosis of chemotherapy treatments (taxol and cisplatin) in triple-negative breast cancer cells when compared to treatment alone. Moreover, hibiscus extract addition to chemotherapy treatment was able to increase oxidative stress and decrease mitochondrial membrane potential compared to individual treatments. Thus, hibiscus extract could supplement chemotherapeutic regimens as an adjuvant and lead to a more efficacious treatment approach to reduce chemotherapy dosages and related toxicity.