CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF SNOW LOTUS (SAUSSUREA INVOLUCRATA) CRUDE ETHANOL EXTRACTS AGAINST HUMAN COLORECTAL CANCER THROUGH ANTI- PROLIFERATIVE AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES IN HT- 29 COLORECTAL CANCER AND RAW 264.7 MURINE MACROPHAGE CELLS

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a serious public health threat and is characterized by high mortality once in the latter stages of the disease. Chronic inflammation and cancer are two intertwined processes and it is said that preventing the occurrence of the former could serve as a preventive measure for the occurrence of CRC. The current study was done in order to evaluate both the cytotoxic as well as the antiinflammatory properties of ethanol extracts of Saussurea involucrata in light of its potential as a source of a chemotherapeutic agent against CRC. RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells and HT-29 human colorectal carcinoma cells were used in the study to evaluate the antiinflammatory and anti-tumor properties of the extract, respectively. Cell viability analysis, NO assay, RT-PCR assay, Western blot analysis, flow cytometry analysis and DNA fragmentation assay were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties of the extract. Cell viability analysis of HT-29 cells treated with SI extract showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity and decrease in the production of NO after treatment with increasing concentrations of the extract. PCR analysis and Western blot analysis have also shown subsequent changes in the mRNA expression of genes related to both anti-tumor