Exploring Southern Ecuador’s Traditional Medicine: Biological Screening of Plant Extracts and Metabolites
Authors
Nicole Bec
Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy (IRMB), Université de Montpellier National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), 34295 Montpellier, France; [email protected]
Christian Larroque
Nephrology Department CHRU Montpellier, Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy (IRMB), Université de Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France; [email protected]
Chabaco Armijos
Departamento de Química, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, s/n. AP: 11 01 608, Loja 1101608, Ecuador
Keywords:
traditional medicine of Ecuador, bioprospecting of natural products, cytotoxicity, cell-cycle analysis, subcellular targets
Abstract
Ecuador stands as a nation inheriting a profound ancestral legacy in the utilization of medicinal plants, reflective of the rich biodiversity embraced by various ethnic groups. Despite this heritage, many of these therapeutic resources remain insufficiently explored concerning their toxicity and potential pharmacological effects. This study focused on a comprehensive evaluation of cytotoxicity and the potential subcellular targets within various extracts and nine isolated metabolites from carefully selected medicinal plants. Assessing their impact on the breast cancer cell line (MCF7), we subsequently examined the most active fractions for effects on the cell cycle, microtubule network, centrosome duplication, γH2AX foci, and E-cadherin. The investigated crude extracts and isolated compounds from Ecuadorian medicinal plants demonstrated cytotoxic effects, influencing diverse cellular pathways. These findings lend credence to the traditional uses of Ecuadorian medicinal plants, which have served diverse therapeutic purposes. Moreover, they beckon the exploration of the specific chemicals, whether in isolation or combination, responsible for these observed activities.
Keywords: traditional medicine of Ecuador, bioprospecting of natural products, cytotoxicity, cell-cycle analysis, subcellular targets
Author Biographies
Nicole Bec, Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy (IRMB), Université de Montpellier National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), 34295 Montpellier, France; [email protected]
Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation
Christian Larroque, Nephrology Department CHRU Montpellier, Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy (IRMB), Université de Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France; [email protected]
Conceptualization, Methodology, Resources, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing
Chabaco Armijos, Departamento de Química, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, s/n. AP: 11 01 608, Loja 1101608, Ecuador
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