Mechanism of Immunotherapeutic and Anticancer Effects of <i>Moringa peregrina</i> Seed Extract on Non-Small-Lung Cancer, NCI-H460, Cell Line

The Moringa peregrina plant possesses various therapeutic properties. This study determined the immunomodulatory and cytotoxic activities of M. peregrina seed ethanol extract (MPSE). Based on using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis MPSE is rich in flavonoids, isothiocyanate, tocopherols, triterpenoids, and phenolics compounds. The immunomodulatory effect of MPSE was determined on whole blood and polymorphonuclear (PMNs) cells and macrophages. The in vitro antiproliferative effect was determined on the non-small-cell lung cancer, NCI-H460, cell line. Real-time quantitative PCR and flow cytometry were used to determine the expression of apoptotic genes in the MPSE-treated NCI-H460 cells. MPSE significantly (p < 0.001) suppressed whole blood, PMN cells and macrophage ROS production with IC50 values of 40.3 ± 0.3, 33.0 ± 0.6, and 26.1 ± 0.43 μg/mL, respectively. MPSE at the IC50 concentration of 46.1 μg/mL after 48 h treatment was significantly cytotoxic to the NCI-H460 cells but harmless to the normal murine fibroblast, NIH-3T3, cells. The NCI-H460 cells treated with MPSE underwent late apoptosis, which was also evident by the upregulation of the BAX and downregulation of the Bcl2, c-Myc, and survivin gene expressions. MPSE modulated the functions of cells of innate immunity by decreasing their ROS production. The extract also induced apoptosis of the NCI-H460 cells via the mitochondrial pathway.