<i>Malva pseudolavatera</i> Leaf Extract Promotes ROS Induction Leading to Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells In Vitro

• Main Authors: Marianne El Khoury, Tony Haykal, Mohammad H. Hodroj, Sonia Abou Najem, Rita Sarkis, Robin I. Taleb, Sandra Rizk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-02-01
• Series: Cancers
• Subjects: <i>malva pseudolavatera</i> webb &amp; berthel.; apoptosis; acute myeloid leukemia; reactive oxygen species
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/2/435

<i>Malva pseudolavatera</i> Webb &amp; Berthel. is a plant from the Malvaceae family that has long been included in the human diet due to its various curative effects. Many plant leaf extracts from the various species of <i>Malva</i> genus have been reported to possess anti-cancer properties, however, studies on <i>M. pseudolavatera</i> Webb &amp; Berthel. leaves have documented anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects with no emphasis on their possible anti-cancer potential. The present study explores the anti-cancer properties of <i>Malva pseudolavatera</i> Webb &amp; Berthel. leaf extract on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines in vitro and deciphers the underlying molecular mechanism. Treatment of AML cell lines with <i>M. pseudolavatera</i> methanolic leaf extract showed a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of proliferation and a dose-dependent increase in apoptotic hallmarks such as an increase in phosphatidylserine on the outer membrane leaflet and membrane leakage in addition to DNA fragmentation. The pro-apoptotic effect was induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as an upregulation of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, andrelease of cytochrome-c from the mitochondria. Major compounds of the extract included methyl linolenate, phytol, &#947;-sitosterol, and stigmasterol as revealed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and amino acids, amino acid derivatives, tiliroside, 13-hydroxyperoxyoctadecadienoic, and quercitrin as detected by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.