University of Louisville
Assessing the Bioactivity of Salvia Phytochemicals Against Breast Cancers.
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
Chemistry (with a track in Biochemistry)
Institution 23-24
University of Louisville
KY House District #
34
KY Senate District #
26
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Dr. David J. Schultz, PhD; Jared L. Scott, MS
Department
Dept. of Biology
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in adults, with 2.3 million new cases worldwide in 2020. Plants have been used in traditional medicine and are a potential source of pharmaceuticals. One example is the large Lamiaceae (mint) family. The Salvia genus, commonly known as the sages, is the largest genus in Lamiaceae with almost 900 known species. Salvia lyrata (lyre-leaved sage) is common sage found throughout Kentucky and has a history of Native American medicinal use to treat cancers and other ailments resulting in this plant being referred to as ‘cancer weed.’ Ethanolic extracts were produced from the leaves of S. lyrata, S. lyrata ‘Purple Knockout,’ and Salvia officinalis (common sage, a naturalized European plant now commonly found in Kentucky) and assessed for effects in breast cell proliferation using MTT assays for three breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, BT474, and T47D). Ethanol extracts of S. officinalis had the greatest impact on cell proliferation when compared to both S. lyrata extracts. Further, this extract was most effective against the triple negative MDA-MB-231 cell line compared to the other two cell lines. More detailed studies are ongoing to determine the active components and mechanism of inhibition for this extract in triple negative breast cancer cells and investigate if the effect on breast cancer cells can be optimized. Future studies will work to identify active anticancer biomolecules through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Research suggests that Salvia contains many different phenolic compounds, some of which have anticancer activity. Acid hydrolysis will also be employed to remove glycosides and thus influence extract polarity. Once active biomolecules have been identified, the antiproliferation activity of specific isolated biomolecules and the potential for acid hydrolysis to increase antiproliferation activity can be assayed.
Assessing the Bioactivity of Salvia Phytochemicals Against Breast Cancers.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in adults, with 2.3 million new cases worldwide in 2020. Plants have been used in traditional medicine and are a potential source of pharmaceuticals. One example is the large Lamiaceae (mint) family. The Salvia genus, commonly known as the sages, is the largest genus in Lamiaceae with almost 900 known species. Salvia lyrata (lyre-leaved sage) is common sage found throughout Kentucky and has a history of Native American medicinal use to treat cancers and other ailments resulting in this plant being referred to as ‘cancer weed.’ Ethanolic extracts were produced from the leaves of S. lyrata, S. lyrata ‘Purple Knockout,’ and Salvia officinalis (common sage, a naturalized European plant now commonly found in Kentucky) and assessed for effects in breast cell proliferation using MTT assays for three breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, BT474, and T47D). Ethanol extracts of S. officinalis had the greatest impact on cell proliferation when compared to both S. lyrata extracts. Further, this extract was most effective against the triple negative MDA-MB-231 cell line compared to the other two cell lines. More detailed studies are ongoing to determine the active components and mechanism of inhibition for this extract in triple negative breast cancer cells and investigate if the effect on breast cancer cells can be optimized. Future studies will work to identify active anticancer biomolecules through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Research suggests that Salvia contains many different phenolic compounds, some of which have anticancer activity. Acid hydrolysis will also be employed to remove glycosides and thus influence extract polarity. Once active biomolecules have been identified, the antiproliferation activity of specific isolated biomolecules and the potential for acid hydrolysis to increase antiproliferation activity can be assayed.