Apoptosis Inducer Capacity of Cardiotonic Steroids of Urginea maritima Extract on SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells, with Less Susceptibility among Neuron-Module Cells

Abstract

Natural products have played a significant role in conventional treatment and in the development of new drugs for a wide range of illnesses, including malignant disease. Urginea maritima is classified as an herb is endemic to the Mediterranean area. This herb was renowned in traditional ethnopharmacological applications. Notwithstanding, there is a lack of evidence pertaining to the characterization of the Urginea maritima constituents contained within a water-based extract and their bioactivity in human neurological disorders. Therefore, we sought to investigate the composition and to evaluate its antitumour capability against the human malignant neuroblastoma cells. Through the utilization of several in vitro techniques, the present work illustrates that cardiotonic steroids are the main constituents of Urginea maritima aqueous extract and grouping of polyphenolic compounds are present. This result was based on interpretation of the mass spectrum obtained via electrospray ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. The current study finding confirms that the constituents of the extract trigger a series of toxic reactions. In terms of cell proliferation inhibition, malignant SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell proliferation was selectively inhibited in a time- dose dependent manner. As verified quantitatively using the MTS colorimetric assay, with less toxicity was observed toward neuron-model cells. Apoptosis was efficiently induced in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells as evidenced by Fluorescent microscopy using PI staining and DNA-specific dye DAPI revealed nuclear fragmentation, which profounds the apoptosis mechanism. Our novel findings clearly emphasize that the principal constituents of this unusual natural product can exhibit dual effects on neuron cells. This preferential selectivity provides an interesting basis for widespread medical application and a promising therapeutic strategy against neurological diseases, specifically human malignant neuroblastoma disorders.