PANCREATIC LIPASE INHIBITORY- AND ANTIPROLIFERATIVE EFFECTS OF OLEA EUROPAEA L., PISTACIA LENTISCUS L. AND MARRUBIUM VULGARE ON OBESITY-RELATED HUMAN COLORECTAL CANCER CELL LINES

Abstract

Phytochemical screening and anti-obesity activity of methanol extracts of Olea europaea L., Pistacia lentiscus L. and Marrubium vulgare were analyzed, and since obesity is suggested to be associated with colorectal cancer, the antiproliferative activity of the selected plants against five obesity-related colorectal cancer cell lines was also assessed. Inhibition of pancreatic lipase was measured spectrophotometrically whereas the antiproliferative activity was assessed using the SRB assay. Phytochemical analysis was carried out by TLC. Qualitative analysis of the tested extracts showed the occurrence of luteolin, hyperoside, rutin, and vitexin in both, P. lentiscus and O. europaea. Extracts of P. lentiscus and O. europaea showed a very potent anti-lipase activity with IC50 values of 2.8 ± 0.2 µg/mL and 9.7 ± 1.3 µg/mL, respectively, whereas M. vulgare extract exerted a moderate inhibition of lipase activity (IC50 = 50.2 ± 1.3 µg/mL). Moreover, evaluation of cytotoxicity of the extracts on obesity-related colorectal cancer cell lines revealed an interesting antiproliferative effect on CACO2 cell line with IC50 values of 11.8 ± 1.2 μg/mL, 18.0 ± 1.2 μg/mL, and 36.6 ± 4.3 μg/mL for O. europaea, P. lentiscus, and M. vulgare, respectively. HT29, SW480, and HCT116 cell lines were also sensitive to P. lentiscus treatment (IC50 values of 33.5 ± 1.4 µg/mL, 43 ± 4.7 µg/mL, and 47.8±7.2 µg/mL, respectively). The extracts were safe on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts  used as non-cancerous control, unlike the reference antineoplastic drug (cisplatin) whose toxicity has not precluded normal cells. This study provides pharmacological evidence for the anti-lipase and antiproliferative activities of the selected plants, suggesting that they might be potential candidates for obesity management and cancer prevention and treatment.