Abstract
This study compared the cytotoxic effects of Urtica dioica and pumpkin seed on the LNCaP prostate cancer cell line. Various studies have shown that Urtica dioica and pumpkin seed exert positive clinical effects in cases of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) through the inhibition of testosterone's conversion in dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Indeed, Utrica dioica has shown additional effects in lessening the symptoms of prostate cancer by increasing the urinary slow of affected men, and pumpkin seed has shown some supplementary effects in inflammatory prostatitis, including an increase in prostate secretions; this study hypothesized that Urtica dioica and pumpkin seed would inhibit prostate cancer cell growth. The aqueous and alcohol extracts of pumpkin seed and hexane extract of Urtica dioica were obtained. After culturing the LNCaP cells, the duplicates of various concentrations of the drugs were added in four 6-well plates. Within 24 hours of treatment, a cell count was performed with the trypan blue exclusion test using a haecytometer. Additional toxicity testing was performed by utilizing DNA fragmentation tests, mitochondrial staining, and ROS measurement. The results show that effective inhibition of prostate cancer cell growth was observed with both the pumpkin seed and Urtica dioica, with pumpkin seed having the greater overall effect. Although this study has shown in-vitro effectiveness of both compounds tested on the LNCaP cell line, further research is required prior to any use of these preparations as a chemotherapeutic agent. (The authors would like to thank Royal Dames of Cancer Research, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, FL for their support.)
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Mark Jaffe, Dr. Appu Rathinavelu
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-13-2012 1:00 PM
End Date
4-13-2012 5:30 PM
A Cytotoxic Investigation of Urtica dioica and Pumpkin Seed on LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cell Line
Alvin Sherman Library
This study compared the cytotoxic effects of Urtica dioica and pumpkin seed on the LNCaP prostate cancer cell line. Various studies have shown that Urtica dioica and pumpkin seed exert positive clinical effects in cases of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) through the inhibition of testosterone's conversion in dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Indeed, Utrica dioica has shown additional effects in lessening the symptoms of prostate cancer by increasing the urinary slow of affected men, and pumpkin seed has shown some supplementary effects in inflammatory prostatitis, including an increase in prostate secretions; this study hypothesized that Urtica dioica and pumpkin seed would inhibit prostate cancer cell growth. The aqueous and alcohol extracts of pumpkin seed and hexane extract of Urtica dioica were obtained. After culturing the LNCaP cells, the duplicates of various concentrations of the drugs were added in four 6-well plates. Within 24 hours of treatment, a cell count was performed with the trypan blue exclusion test using a haecytometer. Additional toxicity testing was performed by utilizing DNA fragmentation tests, mitochondrial staining, and ROS measurement. The results show that effective inhibition of prostate cancer cell growth was observed with both the pumpkin seed and Urtica dioica, with pumpkin seed having the greater overall effect. Although this study has shown in-vitro effectiveness of both compounds tested on the LNCaP cell line, further research is required prior to any use of these preparations as a chemotherapeutic agent. (The authors would like to thank Royal Dames of Cancer Research, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, FL for their support.)
