Abstract

In recent years, a wide range of secondary metabolite plant physiological and pharmacological proper! es have been evaluated as antitumoral, antiinflammatory and hypolipemiant agents. Phytochemicals, a form of plant-derived compounds include tannins, flavonoids, quinones, etc. In Chile a prominent source of bioac! ve compounds are present in Quillaja saponaria, an endemic tree of the central zone. Since, gastric cancer (GC) is a principal cause of cancer mortality in Chile, we explore if some extracts from Quillaja saponaria (QS) shown anticancer activity. The effect of extracts QS on the viability of SNU1 and KATO III of GC cell lines was evaluated by MTS assay. The apoptosis was analyzed by activation of caspase 3/7 and fragmentation of DNA assay by TUNEL. Additionally, in order to evaluate apoptosis the same extracts were tested with trypan blue and DIC microscopy using CHO cells as control.All the extracts evaluated exhibit antiproliferative activity. The most potent extract was E2, showing an 88% cell death and complete incorporation of trypan blue in 90% of cell cultures. Additionally, the extracts promoted apoptosis via caspase-3 and-7 in both CG cell lines. DIC microscopy technique found damage in the cell membrane in a dose that showed significant antiproliferative effect. This result was confirmed by measurement LDH activity. According to our results the Extract evaluated shown a significant antiproliferative effect, possibly through the ac! va! on of apoptosis.