AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF PINUS WALLICHIANA INHIBITS PROLIFERATION OF CERVICAL CANCER CELL LINE HELA AND REPRESSES THE TRANSCRIPTION OF ANGIOGENIC FACTORS HIF1α AND VEGFSwati Joshi, Sakshi Painuli, Nishant Rai, Ramesh C. Meena, Kshipra Misra and Navin KumarAbstract Aqueous extract of the needles of Pinus wallichiana was prepared through pressurized liquid extraction. Various assays were performed to analyze the phytochemical, anti-oxidant potential and anti-proliferative activities against cancer cell lines. Phytochemical analyses showed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant properties in the extract. HPTLC analysis revealed the presence of ascorbic acid and quercetin. XTT assay demonstrated anti-proliferative activity of the extract against human cervical cancer cell line, HeLa. The extract inhibited 58.02 % HeLa cells at a concentration of 31.2 μg mL-1, which was significantly greater than the inhibition of non-cancerous VERO cells, i.e. 3.84 %. Extract induced repression of key angiogenic factors, HIF-1α and VEGF was analyzed through real-time PCR. The extract down-regulated the transcription of HIF-1α to 0.54 folds and VEGF to 0.31 folds. Results indicated anticancer potential of the needles of P. wallichiana. |