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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Insulin-sensitizing and anti-proliferative effects of Argania spinosa seed extracts
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 3, No. 3, Year 2006
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Description
Argania spinosa is an evergreen tree endemic of southwestern Morocco. Many preparations have been used in traditional Moroccan medicine for centuries to treat several illnesses including diabetes. However, scientific evidence supporting these actions is lacking. Therefore, we prepared various extracts of the argan fruit, namely keel, cake and argan oil extracts, which we tested in the HTC hepatoma cell line for their potential to affect cellular insulin responses. Cell viability was measured by Trypan Blue exclusion and the response to insulin evaluated by the activation of the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK1/2), ERK kinase (MEK1/2) and protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) signaling components. None of the extracts demonstrated significant cytotoxic activity. Certain extracts demonstrated a bi-phasic effect on ERK1/2 activation; low doses of the extract slightly increased ERK1/2 activation in response to insulin, whereas higher doses completely abolished the response. In contrast, none of the extracts had any significant effect on MEK whereas only a cake saponin subfraction enhanced insulin-induced PKB/Akt activation. The specific action of argan oil extracts on ERK1/2 activation made us consider an anti-proliferative action. We have thus tested other transformed cell lines (HT-1080 and MSV-MDCK-INV cells) and found similar results. Inhibition of ERK1/2 activation was also associated with decreased DNA synthesis as evidenced by [ 3H]thymidine incorporation experiments. These results suggest that the products of Argania spinosa may provide a new therapeutic avenue against proliferative diseases. © 2006 The Author(s).
Authors & Co-Authors
Samane, Samira
Canada, Montreal
University of Montreal
Canada, Quebec
Université Laval
Morocco, Casablanca
Hassan Ii University of Casablanca
Noël, Josette
Canada, Montreal
University of Montreal
Charrouf, Zoubida
Morocco, Rabat
Mohammed V University in Rabat
Amarouch, Hamid
Morocco, Casablanca
Hassan Ii University of Casablanca
Haddad, Pierre Sélim
Canada, Montreal
University of Montreal
Canada, Quebec
Université Laval
Statistics
Citations: 83
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1093/ecam/nel015
ISSN:
1741427X
e-ISSN:
17414288
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Health System And Policy
Noncommunicable Diseases
Study Locations
Morocco