In vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of the extract of Sapindus spp.

•The fractions showed antitumor activity against breast cancer cells in vitro.•Extract fraction II and IV showed antitumor effects in vivo.•The isolated fractions had no obvious effect on the immunity of mice.•Fractions could induce apoptosis of tumor cells through, activating Bax and inhibiting Bcl-2.

This study evaluated the antitumor effect of some fractions extracted from Sapindus spp. on breast cancer. Four water-extracted fractions (I, II, III, IV) were isolated from the pericarp of Sapindus spp. using X-5 and AB-8 macroporous resin columns and MCI gel column. The in vitro effect was determined using the MTT assay. Our results indicated that fractions I-IV did not exhibit significant cytotoxic effects towards the normal cell MDA-kb2; Fraction II and IV inhibited the growth of MCF-7 (estrogen receptor positive), MDA-MB-231 (estrogen receptor negative), and MDA-MB-435 s human breast cancer cell lines; of these, MDA-MB-435 s cell line was the most sensitive, and the IC50 of Fraction II and IV against this cell line were 33.11 and 30.06 µg/mL, respectively. In the in vivo experiment, Fraction II and IV showed a strong antitumor effect at a dose of 162.5 mg/kg/d, with inhibition rate of 40.43% and 38.77%. Fraction II and IV also induced apoptosis of tumor cells, activations of Bax (Fraction II) and inhibition of Bcl-2 (Fraction II and IV). Our results underscore the pharmacological potential of Sapindus spp. extracts.

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