Cytotoxic and apoptogenic effect of Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq. leaf extract in human leukemic cell lines U937, K562 and HL-60

• The apoptogenic activity of Swietenia mahagoni leaf extract was investigated in human leukemic cell lines.
• The extract inhibited cell growth and metabolic activity of the leukemic cells.
• The extract arrested U937 and K562 cell populations in the G2-M phase and the HL-60 cell population in the G1 phase of cell cycle.
• Two flavonoids, catechin and quercetin-3-O-glucoside, were found to be the active ingredients.

The apoptogenic activity of Swietenia mahagoni leaf extract (SMLE) was investigated against three human leukemic cell lines – U937, K562 and HL-60. SMLE inhibited cell growth and metabolic activity of the leukemic cells and showed characteristic features of apoptosis. Flow-cytometric analysis showed that SMLE arrested U937 and K562 cell populations in the G2-M phase and the HL-60 cell population in the G1 phase of cell cycle. SMLE induced apoptosis was found to be mediated through mitochondrial intrinsic pathway involving the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Two flavonoids, catechin and quercetin-3-O-glucoside, isolated from SMLE, were found to inhibit the growth and metabolic activity of U937, K562 and HL-60 cells at much lower concentrations thus indicating that these two flavonoids might be the active ingredients responsible for the anti-leukemic activity of SMLE.

Two flavonoids identified as the active ingredients responsible for the anti-leukemic activity of Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq. leaf extract.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide