Photodynamic activity of plant extracts from Sarawak

Kamarulzaman F. A., . and Jong W. W., . and Thomas V. M. Q., . and Lee H. B., . (2010) Photodynamic activity of plant extracts from Sarawak. [Proceedings Paper]

Photodynamic Therapy PDT is a relatively new cancer treatment that involves the selective uptake and retention of a photosensitizer in cancerous cells followed by irradiation with light of a particular wavelength to activate the photosensitizer to kill the cells. To date only a small number of photosensitizers have been clinically approved for PDT and researchers continue to look for new molecules that may have more desirable properties for clinical applications. Natural products have long been important sources of pharmaceuticals and there is great potential for discovery of novel photosensitizers from Sarawak;s rich biodiversity. In this study we screened for photosensitizing activity from extracts of plants collected from various locations in the state. Organic extracts from different part of the plants were tested on HL60 and K562 human leukemic cell lines for PDT activity at 20g/ml. Extracts that reduced cell viability to lower than 50 after light treatment but not in the dark were considered active. Of the 2400 extracts coming from 888 plant species tested 14.6 or 351 extracts showed PDT activity with 50 extracts from 37 plants showed at least five-fold more photocytoxicity than general cytotoxicity in the dark. The active samples included extracts derived from plants that are common to Sarawak such as Kacang Ma Leonurus sibiricus Sembong Blumea balsamifera and Entemu Curcuma zedoaria. Work is underway to fractionate the extracts to identify active components that may be further developed into PDT agents.

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Abstract

Photodynamic Therapy PDT is a relatively new cancer treatment that involves the selective uptake and retention of a photosensitizer in cancerous cells followed by irradiation with light of a particular wavelength to activate the photosensitizer to kill the cells. To date only a small number of photosensitizers have been clinically approved for PDT and researchers continue to look for new molecules that may have more desirable properties for clinical applications. Natural products have long been important sources of pharmaceuticals and there is great potential for discovery of novel photosensitizers from Sarawak;s rich biodiversity. In this study we screened for photosensitizing activity from extracts of plants collected from various locations in the state. Organic extracts from different part of the plants were tested on HL60 and K562 human leukemic cell lines for PDT activity at 20g/ml. Extracts that reduced cell viability to lower than 50 after light treatment but not in the dark were considered active. Of the 2400 extracts coming from 888 plant species tested 14.6 or 351 extracts showed PDT activity with 50 extracts from 37 plants showed at least five-fold more photocytoxicity than general cytotoxicity in the dark. The active samples included extracts derived from plants that are common to Sarawak such as Kacang Ma Leonurus sibiricus Sembong Blumea balsamifera and Entemu Curcuma zedoaria. Work is underway to fractionate the extracts to identify active components that may be further developed into PDT agents.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia. TP248.14 I61 2008 Call Number.
AGROVOC Term:	Blumea balsamifera
AGROVOC Term:	Curcuma zedoaria
AGROVOC Term:	Disease treatment
AGROVOC Term:	Plant extracts
AGROVOC Term:	Cancer disease
AGROVOC Term:	Cells
AGROVOC Term:	Cytotoxicity
AGROVOC Term:	Pharmaceutical plants
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:15
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/13166

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