Sutherlandia frutescens Induces Apoptosis in A375 Cells

Sutherlandia frutescens is a plant native to Southern Africa that has been traditionally used for treating various ailments and even reported to have anticancer activity. Based on claims of anticancer activity, the plant has been locally dubbed the "cancer bush". Sutherlandia frutescens is commercially available in the form of tablets or tinctures and consuming the product is not associated with any toxic side effects. In the following study, scientists research the effect of Sutherlandia frutescens on A375 melanoma cells. The aim of the study is to find evidence of whether or not the plant extract induces apoptosis on the A375 melanoma cell line. Results show that Sutherlandia frutescens is cytotoxic in a dose- and time-dependent manner and induces caspase-dependent and caspase-independent apoptosis in A375 cells. Gene analysis conducted during the study also molecular targets the Sutherlandia frutescens extract, which include: angiogenesis, metastasis, EMT (epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation), hypoxia, cell cycle regulation, and cell senescence. Overall, the Sutherlandia frutescens plant effectively induces apoptosis in A375 melanoma cells. However, a high concentration of the plant extract is required to have this effect, therefore posing a limitation on the clinical use on its treatment of cancer. [LINK]

An A375 Transfection Reagent is commercially available from Altogen Biosystems, which includes standard and reverse protocols to transfect A375 cells. A xenograft model of this cell line can be found here.