Effect of herbal extract on cell death and immunomodulation of human colonic cells

Abstract

Besides being a complementary medicinal drug, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been widely used in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Colon cancer is one of the top ranking cancers in the world with increasing incidence of occurrence. Therefore, we are interested to find out the effects and mechanisms by which some of the herbs which claimed to possess anticancer effects work on colon cancer cells. HCT-116, CaCO-2, HT-29 and CRL-1790 human colonic cells were treated with a combination of ten herbs as well as individual herbs. Enhanced cell death was observed in all colon cells when treated with combined herbs. Increased cell death was observed only in some individual herbal treatment. DNA laddering and lactate dehydrogenase assays were also performed to determine the mechanism of cell death. ELISA was performed to determine the immunomodulatory effect of the herbs on the colonic cells. Cells of difference phases of colon cancer showed differing response to the various herbs tested.