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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

In vitro induction of human embryonal carcinoma differentiation by a crude extract of Rhazya stricta

Authors: Faisal S. Alagrafi, Abdullah O. Alawad, Nael M. Abutaha, Fahd A. Nasr, Othman A. Alhazzaa, Sultan N. Alharbi, Mohammad N. Alkhrayef, Mohamed Hammad, Ziyad A. Alhamdan, Abdullah D. Alenazi, Mohammad A. Wadaan

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Rhazya stricta Decne. is a medicinal plant that is widespread in Saudi Arabia and desert areas of the Arabian Peninsula. Its extract contains alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids that are involved in different biological activities. The study aim was to evaluate the effects of Rhazya stricta plant extracts on the proliferation and differentiation of NTERA-2 (NT2) pluripotent embryonal carcinoma cells.

Methods

Soxhlet extraction was carried out using different solvents to extract stems, leaves and fruit parts of this plant. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by an MTS cell viability assay. The ability of the plant extract to induce cell differentiation was examined phenotypically using an inverted light microscope. The expression of pluripotency markers was investigated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry. Phytochemical screening of chloroform stem extracts was carried out and a chromatographic fingerprint was generated using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Results

Chloroform stem extract induced differentiation of NT2 cells at 5 μg/ml, and the differentiated cells exhibited neurite formation. Following induction of differentiation, there was significant down-regulation of the pluripotency marker genes Oct4 and Sox2. In addition, the surface antigen pluripotency marker, TRA-1-60, was strongly down-regulated. Phytochemical analysis of the extract showed the presence of alkaloids and saponins. The chromatogram revealed the presence of fifteen compounds with different retention times.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate for the first time that chloroform stem extract of R. stricta can induce neuronal differentiation of stem cells at an early stage and may contain potential therapeutic agent that can be used in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Metadata
Title
In vitro induction of human embryonal carcinoma differentiation by a crude extract of Rhazya stricta
Authors
Faisal S. Alagrafi
Abdullah O. Alawad
Nael M. Abutaha
Fahd A. Nasr
Othman A. Alhazzaa
Sultan N. Alharbi
Mohammad N. Alkhrayef
Mohamed Hammad
Ziyad A. Alhamdan
Abdullah D. Alenazi
Mohammad A. Wadaan
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1852-7

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