Impact of Selected Botanicals on HT-29 Cell Proliferation & Cyclooxygenase II

The aim of this study was to evaluate black peppercorn, nutmeg, rosehip, cinnamon, and oregano leaf for their potential antiproliferative activities and cyclooxygenase-II (COX-II) inhibitory capacities, and total phenolic contents (TPC). The 50% acetone extracts of all the tested botanicals were able to dose dependently suppress HT-29 human colon cancer cell proliferation over a four day period. The 50% acetone extract of cinnamon exhibited the strongest antiproliferative activity against HT-29 colon cancer cells under the experimental conditions, and was followed by the 50% acetone extracts of nutmeg, oregano, black peppercorn and rosehips. At a final concentration of 0.38, 0.75, and 1.5mg botanical equivalents/ml, cinnamom extract resulted in 47, 84, and 97% inhibition on cell proliferation after a four day treatment, respectively. To assess the possible anti-inflammatory actvity of the botanicals their COX-II-inhibitory actvities were also examined. Black peppercorn had the highest COX-II inhibitory capacity at 2063.3mg aspirin per g botanical followed by oregano, rosehips, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cinnamon extract exhibited the highest TPC value of 18.6mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per gram of botanical followed by that of 5.5, 5.1, 2.6 and 1.3 GAE/g for oregano, leaf, rosehips, nutmeg, and peppercorn, respectively. These data indicate that these botanicals contain significant levels of potential antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory components, suggesting their possible utilization in improving human health.