Cameroonian tree bark slows breast cancer cells in lab tests
Soudi A, Guedje NM, Awadleydey R, Fomat BHP, Saah Namekong H
Ethnobotany
A community's generations-old plant knowledge just got lab-backed proof, showing how ethnobotany surveys can point scientists straight to compounds worth studying instead of starting from scratch.
Researchers asked communities in Cameroon which plants they use to fight cancer, and one tree, Ekebergia capensis, came up more than any other. When they tested a water-based extract from it, it slowed the growth of human breast cancer cells in a dish and disrupted cell division in onion root tips, a go-to stand-in for testing how a substance affects dividing cells. The extract also passed a safety check in rats, showing it would take an extremely high dose to be harmful.
Key Findings
Ekebergia capensis was the most-cited plant (34.78%) among 19 species used for cancer treatment in a survey of 14 families in Cameroon's Adamawa region
The aqueous extract showed moderate cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell lines (CC50 = 165.19 μg/mL for triple-negative MDA-MB-231; 277.97 μg/mL for estrogen-responsive MCF-7) and strong antioxidant activity
In onion root tests, the extract caused dose-dependent mitotic inhibition (48% at 125 μg/mL to 71% at 1000 μg/mL) and chromosomal abnormalities, while rat toxicity tests found it safe with LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg
chevron_right Technical Summary
A tree used in traditional Cameroonian medicine shows real promise against cancer in lab tests, slowing the growth of breast cancer cells while scoring as non-toxic in safety trials. Researchers also confirmed its cell-dividing disruption using onion roots, a classic plant-based genotoxicity test.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Anticancer effects of Ekebergia capensis Sparrm: cytotoxicity on human breast cancer cells and genotoxicity on Allium cepa L. roots.
Cancer is a global threat that affects people regardless of sex, race, or age. In the ongoing search for novel therapeutic strategies, Cameroon's rich biodiversity offers valuable sources of bioact...
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Ekebergia capensis is a tree in the family Meliaceae. It is commonly known as the Cape ash. Its range extends from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to Sudan and Ethiopia. It has been introduced onto Ascension Island.