The antitumor activity of extracts from Cordia verbenacea D.C. obtained by supercritical fluid extraction

The present study aims to provide a comparative evaluation of the antitumor activity from Cordia verbenacea extracts obtained by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2 at 300 bar and 50 °C and by classical organic solvent extraction (CE) with ethanol. Antitumor in vitro assays were performed for both extracts and the results demonstrate that the supercritical extract causes superior reduction in tumor cells viability and proliferation, whereas the most probable type of cell death is apoptosis. Only the extract obtained by SFE was able to reduce the expression of COX-2 in MCF-7 cells. The in vivo treatment using supercritical extract decreased the tumor volume, the body weight and packed cell volume, as well as increased in 25% the mean survival time, compared to negative control. As a conclusion, the high pressure extraction method enhanced the cytotoxicity and the antitumor activity of extract from C. verbenacea. Additionally, the antitumor mechanism was probably caused by the inhibition of COX-2, leading to the blockage of the survival cells by apoptosis induction.