Investigating the Effect of St John’s Wort on Colorectal Cancer and DROSOPHILA

1. Ashley Ferguson Caitlin Morris Arturo Neo Daniel Tan Investigating the Effect of St John’s Wort on Colorectal Cancer and DROSOPHILA

2. Background • Hypericumperforatum(St. John’s Wort) • Claimed by alternative medical practitioners to be able to treat burns, wounds and inflammation. • Hypericin thought to be the main active constituent.

3. Background • Norepinephrine as a product of stress. • Norepinephrine contributes to cell growth. • Hypericumperforatum thought to inhibit the reuptake of norepinephrine.

4. Objectives (HCI) • To determine whether hypericin is the main chemical constituent responsible for the chemical properties that the St. John’s Wortpossesses. • To determine which proteins (if any) are affected by St. John’s Wortor hypericin. • To determine the effects of St. John’s Wort on a drosophila cell line (invertebrate) • Whole extract (liquid) • Hypericin

5. Objectives (AOS) • To determine whether hypericin is the main chemical constituent responsible for the chemical properties that the St. John’s Wortpossesses. • To determine whether there is a correlation between the amount of norepinephrine secreted by the cells and the concentration of St. John’s Wort and hypericin applied. • To determine the effects of St. John’s Wort on a colorectal cancer cell line (vertebrate) • Whole extract (liquid) • Hypericin • Whole extract (prepared from fresh St. John’s Wort)

6. Overview • Research • AOS • (colorectal cancer) • HCI • (drosophila) • St. John’s Wort • Hypericin • St. John’s Wort • Hypericin • Effects on norepinephrine levels • Rate of proliferation of cancer cells • Effects on immune-related proteins • Rate of proliferation of robust cell line

7. Methods (effects on immune-related proteins) • Feed drosophila flies • One group with St. John’s Wort added to food • One group with hypericin added to food • One group with regular food • Grind 3 sets of flies up • Conduct SDS-PAGE • Send to NUS for MALDI-TOF

8. Methods (rate of proliferation of robust cell line) • Culture drosophila cell line • Apply varying concentrations of St. John’s Wort (4 concentrations) to media of cells • Apply varying concentrations of hypericin (4 concentrations) to media of cells • Conduct a cell count to check the rate of proliferation of drosophila cells

9. Methods (rate of proliferation of cancer cells) • Culture colorectal cancer cells • Apply varying concentrations of St. John’s Wort (4 concentrations) to media of cells • Apply varying concentrations of hypericin (4 concentrations) to media of cells • Conduct a cell count to check the rate of proliferation of colorectal cancer cells

10. Methods (effects on norepinephrine levels) • Add samples of media and antibodies into the ELISA kit plate • Put the wells through a plate reader • Observe the amount of norepinephrine in the wells

11. Link St Johns Wort Hypericin AOS HCI Colorectal cancer cell line Robust cell line of drosophila Vertebrate Invertebrate

12. Link St Johns Wort Hypericin AOS HCI Effects on norepinephrine Effects of immune-related proteins Cancer cell physiology Immune system

13. Extension Work • Conduct SDS-PAGE and send for MALDI-TOF the samples from the investigation of the rate of proliferation of cells.

14. Reference • Mechanisms of mitotic cell death induced by chemotherapy-mediated g2 checkpoint abrogation. (2007). Cancer Res,67(339), Retrieved from http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/67/1/339.full.pdf+html doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-06-2548 • St John's wort. (2010). Wikipedia. Retrieved November 3, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_John's_wort • Pressman, A H. (1998). St. john's wort - the miracle medicine. US: The Philip Lief Group, Inc.

15. Acknowledgements • Project mentors from both AOS and HCI, Ms Jackie Curley and Ms Sandra Tan. • Other teachers and advisors who have provided valuable advice, especially Mr. George Wolfe.