Inhibition of Proliferation of Human Prostate Carcinoma Cell, PC3 by Bauhinia racemosa Lam. via Induction of Apoptosis

Background: Prostate cancer is the second foremost cause of cancer death in Western males, the progression of which may be a consequence of defect in apoptotic machinery. Objective: Thus, aim of the study was designed to investigate inhibition of proliferation of human prostate carcinoma cell line, PC3 by Methanolic extract of Bauhinia racemosa Lam (MEBR). Methods: MTT assay was performed to evaluate antiproliferative effect of MEBR on prostate carcinoma cell line while DAPI and DCFH-DA staining studies were performed to investigate the underlying mechanism in antiproliferative effect of MEBR. Results: Total flavonoid content in MEBR was found to be 868 mg QE/g dried extract. MEBR exposure to PC3 cells significantly (p<0.001) increased the cytotoxicity in a concentration dependent manner. The percent cytotoxicity data indicates that exposure of PC3 cells to 25 and 50 µg/ml of MEBR, cytotoxicity was 15.42% and 36.67% respectively as compared to control, which further increased to 56.82% and 78.04% (p<0.001) at 75 µg/ml and 100 µg/ml respectively. IC50 value was found to be 66.85 µg/ ml of the extract MEBR. MEBR induced significant (p<0.001) nuclear condensation in a concentration dependent manner depicting the induction of apoptosis in PC3 cells. MEBR elevated the significant ROS activity level and fluorescence intensity in a concentration dependent manner as compared to control in PC3 cells exposed to MEBR. Conclusion: MEBR possesses antiproliferative activity and leads to PC3 cell death via induction of apoptosis mediated through excessive ROS generation. Hence, the extract MEBR may be potentially precious for application in chemotherapeutic drug developments for prostate cancer..