Abstract
Cancer remains number one health care challenge worldwide with an estimation of 1 in 9 people developing cancer in their lifetime. Statistically, an increase in worldwide cancer risk factors (unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, population aging and growth etc.) has projected an estimated 28 million new cancer cases annually by 2040, signifying a 54.9% increase from 2020. The pinnacle in cancer-related mortality is metastasis (approximately 90%). Due to drawbacks of conventional cancer therapy, research interests in medicinal plant for their potential therapeutic use has increased in both the academic and pharmaceutical worlds. The aim of the project was to investigate the anti-cancer and anti-metastatic effects of Leptospermum petersonii’s active compounds against pancreatic and prostate cancer cells. Several research has reported that L. petersonii was used as antifungal and antibacterial. However, its rich bioactive compounds might have other benefits like anticancer properties. In our approach we employed the following techniques TLC, Column and NMR chromatography, alamarblue assay, ATP assay, wound healing assay, Hoechst Staining, caspase assay, Agarose gel (DNA fragmentation analysis) and RT-PCR in the analysis and determination of anti-metastatic activity and stimulation of apoptotic genes against pancreatic (cell line MIA PaCa-2) and prostate cancer (cell line PC3). It was observed that L. petersonii extracts may possess potential anticancer effects warranting further research. Through cell viability assay and IC₅₀ of approximately 100 μg/mL for the methanolic crude extract was identified with greater cytotoxic effect on MIA PaCa-2 than PC3 cells. The EtOAc extract showed cytotoxicity indices IC₅₀ > 100 μg/mL meaning that over 60% of the cells were viable even at a dose of 100 μg/mL and thus led to the termination of additional testing because of its ineffective potency. In checking apoptosis induction both caspase 3/7 activity and DNA fragmentation has shown some positive result in support of apoptosis. While Wound healing has also shown that following treatment of the cells took longer to close the gap while untreated cells closed the gap within 24 hours. Gene expression showed upregulation of RB1 and checkpoint 1 which are necessary for DNA damage and apoptosis induction. In conclusion, the results suggest that there might be compounds within L. petersonii extracts that can be exploited for anticancer agent.