Studying the Cell Viability and Cell Apoptosis-Inducing Abilities of Apio Leaves
by Alexus Inthanosay
I was able to study the cell viability and cell apoptosis-inducing abilities of Apio leaves under the guidance of research coordinator Dr. Sun-Ok Lee and PhD student Inah Gu. I also conducted total phenolic and antioxidant scavenging activity assays prior to the grant. Apio leaves come from South American tuberous crops and are often thrown out for waste. I was interested in researching if the leaves from the crops have the properties to be considered a functional ingredient and have potential in reducing colon cancer while reducing plant waste.
As a pre-med and dietetics student, I became passionate and eager to learn about research processes to further my understanding of information I have learned in my courses and to gain hands-on experience. For this phase of my research, I spent most of my time conducting MTS assays to measure cell viability of Caco-2 cells. I then used ELISA kits to study cell-apoptosis properties. With the help from Inah Gu, I was able to learn about these processes and gained the ability to modify specific steps of my research to ensure my studies were as efficient as possible. I was able to experience the trial and error that one may come across in lab work but also how to learn from it. The funds from the grant were distributed amongst multiple areas in my research which helped me carry out my experiments. The funds were used to purchase the following: nitrogen gas cylinders for dehydrating samples, and a variety of other lab supplies, reagents and kits for my assays and cell culture
By the end of the research term, I was able to conclude that specific concentrations of Apio leaves demonstrated to have antioxidant activities, the ability to reduce cell growth and have potential effect in inducing cell apoptosis in Caco-2 cells. The present findings indicate that with further research, Apio leaves can potentially be used as a functional food ingredient.
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