Apoptotic Potential of Synthite Tea Extract in Multiple Human Melanoma Cell lines
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Research Presentation
Challenges Theme
Open Challenge
Faculty Sponsor
Siyaram Pandey
Proposal
Melanoma is the cancer of melanocytes and one of the most common forms of skin cancer worldwide. In modern medicine common treatments for melanoma include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. However, these treatments give rise to several problems. Major concerns include that these treatments are non-selective and therefore often toxic to normal cells and that as melanoma develops into its later stages, these therapies grow less effective. Numerous studies have suggested natural health compounds serving as potential anti-cancer agents. Specifically, the ability of Green Tea Extract, from the plant Camellia Sinensis, has been shown to contain anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. In this study, a similar tea, Synthite Tea (GTE), an unprocessed fresh tea extract supplied by Synthite Industries Ltd. is evaluated for its apoptotic ability in multiple human melanoma cell lines. In addition, the interaction between STE and temozolomide (TMZ), the standard chemotherapeutic used for treating melanoma, is investigated. The results show that STE induces apoptosis in multiple human melanoma cell lines in a dose and time-dependent manner. Moreover, the GTE and TMZ combination treatment show a slight increase effect compared to the treatments separately. Further work with in-vivo mice models and targeting stem cells has been conducted. These findings suggest that GTE can be used as an anti-cancer therapeutic alone and in combination with temozolomide. Further studies should investigate the cellular mechanisms behind the anti-cancer activity of GTE.
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Apoptotic Potential of Synthite Tea Extract in Multiple Human Melanoma Cell lines
Melanoma is the cancer of melanocytes and one of the most common forms of skin cancer worldwide. In modern medicine common treatments for melanoma include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. However, these treatments give rise to several problems. Major concerns include that these treatments are non-selective and therefore often toxic to normal cells and that as melanoma develops into its later stages, these therapies grow less effective. Numerous studies have suggested natural health compounds serving as potential anti-cancer agents. Specifically, the ability of Green Tea Extract, from the plant Camellia Sinensis, has been shown to contain anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. In this study, a similar tea, Synthite Tea (GTE), an unprocessed fresh tea extract supplied by Synthite Industries Ltd. is evaluated for its apoptotic ability in multiple human melanoma cell lines. In addition, the interaction between STE and temozolomide (TMZ), the standard chemotherapeutic used for treating melanoma, is investigated. The results show that STE induces apoptosis in multiple human melanoma cell lines in a dose and time-dependent manner. Moreover, the GTE and TMZ combination treatment show a slight increase effect compared to the treatments separately. Further work with in-vivo mice models and targeting stem cells has been conducted. These findings suggest that GTE can be used as an anti-cancer therapeutic alone and in combination with temozolomide. Further studies should investigate the cellular mechanisms behind the anti-cancer activity of GTE.