Research found that Solanum aculeastrum, commonly known as the soda-apple nightshade, could potentially be used to treat cancer. The study, published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, evaluated the anti-cancer activity of S. aculeastrum, as well as tested its ability to inhibit P-glycoprotein and its synergistic effect when combined with doxorubicin treatment.
Crude extracts of S. aculeastrum were prepared using ultrasonic maceration, while liquid-liquid extractions produced aqueous and organic fractions.
From the aqueous fractions, researchers isolated active ingredients using column chromatography, solid phase extraction, and preparative thin-layer chromatography. This was confirmed using nuclear magnetic resonance and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Researchers tested the cytotoxicity of both crude extract and fractions using sulforhodamine B and rhodamine-123 assays, respectively.
The findings revealed that both were cytotoxic to cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines, with P-glycoprotein being inhibited depending on dosage.
Two steroidal alkaloids – solamargine and solanine – were identified from the assays. In particular, solamargine exhibited P-glycoprotein inhibition activity at 100 μg/mL against the SH-SY5Y cell line.
Further studies, according to researchers, should look at the exact mechanisms of cell death to determine potential uses.