Lemongrass Extract Possesses Potent Anticancer Activity Against HumanColon Cancers Inhibits Tumorigenesis Enhances Efficacy of FOLFOX and ReducesIts Adverse Effects

摘要

Current chemotherapeutics for metastatic colorectal cancers have limited successand are extremely toxic due to nonselective targeting. Some natural extractshave been traditionally taken and have shown anticancer activity. These extractshave multiple phytochemicals that can target different pathways selectively incancer cells. We have shown previously that lemongrass ( ) extract is effective at inducing cell death in humanlymphomas. However, the efficacy of lemongrass extract on human colorectalcancer has not been investigated. Furthermore, its interactions with currentchemotherapies for colon cancer is unknown. In this article, we report theanticancer effects of ethanolic lemongrass extract in colorectal cancer models,and importantly, its interactions with FOLFOX and Taxol. Lemongrass extractinduced apoptosis in colon cancer cells in a time and dose-dependent mannerwithout harming healthy cells in vitro. Oral administration of lemongrassextract was well tolerated and effective at inhibiting colon cancer xenograftgrowth in mice. It enhanced the anticancer efficacy of FOLFOX and,interestingly, inhibited FOLFOX-related weight loss in animals given thecombination treatment. Furthermore, feeding lemongrass extract toAPC transgenic mice led to the reduction of intestinaltumors, indicating its preventative potential. Therefore, this natural extracthas potential to be developed as a supplemental treatment for colorectalcancer.