Role of reactive oxygen species in the anticancer activity of botanicals: Comparing sensitivity profiles

Numerous botanicals have been shown to exhibit in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity, some of which is the result of the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells with a high ROS content. The present study compared sensitivities to a series of botanicals among cancer cell lines, using an XTT viability test, in order to create a specific cancerherb profile. Of the 27 botanicals screened, 10 exhibited a cytotoxic effect, 7 of which were ROS-mediated. The sensitivity profiles of the ROSinducing botanicals in 10 cancer cell lines were similar, unlike 3 cytotoxic ROSindependent botanicals that displayed divergent botanicalspecific profiles. The correlation between sensitivity profiles of ROSinducing botanicals suggests a common mechanism of action, in contrast to the varied mechanism of ROSindependent botanicals. This implies that the investigation of the anticancer activity of botanicals should start with the examination of ROSmediated activity. Further investigation of ROS sensitivity among various tumor types is required in order to guide research into developing evidencebased guidelines in the use of botanicals for cancer treatment.