Actividad citotóxica y mecanismos de muerte celular de distintas horchatas expendidas en los principales mercados de la ciudad de Loja

Abstract

In the province of Loja is prepared a drink called "horchata" that includes up to 71 medicinal plants, ranging from 16 to 32 species, is attributed several properties and it is believed that the mixture could have antitumor capacity. The objective of the study was to determine if 9 different “horchata” mixtures (denominated as H) that differ in percentage and variety of plants, cause cytotoxicity in tumor lines and which mechanism of death induce, and if there is any effect in normal cells. The cytotoxicity assay at 50μg / ml indicated a greater than 30% inhibition of H1, H2, H7, H8 and H9 cerebral astrocytoma (D-384) and there was no cytotoxic effect on immortalized chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) or lymphocytes. The IC50 range of effective “horchatas” was 41 to 122 μg / ml. H1, H7 and H9 in D-384 cells induce apoptosis, cycle arrest and genotoxic damage, pathways modulated by p53 / p73 phosphorylation. “Horchata” could be used as a potential phytopharmaceutical for the treatment of brain cancer.