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.

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