Echinacea shows promise against cancerA new method based on supercritical fluid extraction for polyacetylenes and polyenes from Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt. roots.
Strong relevance to lung cancer
We explored the potential of echinacea, specifically the roots of Echinacea pallida, in fighting lung cancer. The focus was on extracting polyacetylenes and polyenes, compounds known for their antiproliferative properties. To achieve this, we applied a method called supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), which we compared against the traditional Soxhlet extraction. We aimed to derive a bioactive extract that could be effective against cancer cells.
Using SFE, we were able to extract a highly concentrated yield of 1.18-1.21%, while maintaining the integrity of the beneficial compounds. The extracts were then tested for their effects on human lung cancer cells (A549) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Surprisingly, we observed a more significant cytotoxic effect against the breast cancer cells than the lung cancer cells, with effective concentration values that demonstrated notable activity.
This research presents a new, eco-friendly method for extracting valuable compounds from echinacea roots. Although the extracts had a more pronounced effect on breast cancer cells, this study still opens doors to exploring echinacea's potential in cancer prevention and treatment strategies.
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We set out to explore the potential of Echinacea purpurea as a treatment for lung cancer, specifically investigating its effects on A549 lung cancer cells. Our research involved assessing how Echinacea interacts with cancer cell growth, its role in inducing cell death, and its influence on the levels of reactive oxygen species within these cells.
Through a series of tests, including the MTT assay for cell growth and flow cytometry for apoptosis detection, we were able to observe significant pro-apoptotic effects of Echinacea. This means that Echinacea not only hindered the proliferation of lung cancer cells but also helped to promote their programmed cell death, a crucial part of combating cancer.
Our findings suggest that Echinacea could be considered an alternative or supplementary treatment to enhance the effectiveness of conventional anti-cancer therapies. However, it's essential to conduct further research to fully understand its mechanisms and potential alongside other treatments like Cannabis sativa, which was also evaluated in this study.
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