Characterization of Anti-Cancer Properties of Qatari Prosopis Species, Prosopis juliflora and Prosopis cineraria, against Human Breast, Lung, and Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

Background: The Prosopis plant species have been reported for their diverse therapeutic benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant, and anti- tumor properties. Prosopis cineraria, Prosopis juliflora are two of the three Prospois species existing in Qatar. P. cineraria, a native and non-invasive species, is experiencing a population decline, while P. juliflora, an exotic invasive species, is expanding and negatively impacting the local plant diversity. Previous studies have shown the antifungal and antibacterial properties of P. juliflora. However, the potential anti-cancer properties of P. juliflora and P. cineraria grown in Qatar remain largely unexamined.

Objective: The objective of the study is to investigate the anti-cancerous activities of plant extracts of P. cineraria and P. juliflora on the viability and migration of breast (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, MCF10A), lung (A549), and ovarian (SCOV3) human cancer cell lines.

Methods: The plant extracts of P. cineraria and P. juliflora were prepared by a novel extraction protocol. The effect of these plant extracts on the viability of the human cell lines and normal human neonatal fibroblasts (HdFn), were examined using Alamar Blue™ cell proliferation assay. Furthermore, the anti- migratory effects of the extracts against the invasive cancerous cell lines (MDA-MB-231, A549, and SCOV3) were tested using the wound-healing/ scratch assay.