The document summarizes a study examining the cytotoxic effects of creosote (Larrea tridentata) plant extracts on human lymphoma cell lines. A team of researchers from the University of Texas at El Paso and the University of Puerto Rico tested creosote leaf extracts on lymphoma cell lines and a non-transformed cell line. Their results suggest that the creosote extracts induce cell death in various lymphoma cell lines via apoptosis. The extracts also appear to protect cells from oxidative stress. While extracts from the creosote plant are used as herbal medicine in Mexico, U.S. and Canadian health organizations have issued warnings about potential organ damage. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action and toxicity of compounds in the

1. University of Texas at El Paso
DigitalCommons@UTEP
COURI Symposium Abstracts, Summer 2012 COURI Symposium Abstracts
Summer 7-6-2012
Cytotoxic Effects of Creosote (Larrea Tridentata)
Plant Extracts on Human Lymphoma Cells Lines
Emanuel Cordero
Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Puerto Rico en Arecibo, emanuel.cordero@upr.edu
Yahaira Santiago
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, ysantiagovazquez@miners.utep.edu
Carolina Lema
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, fclema@utep.edu
Armando Varela-Ramirez
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso
Renato J Aguilera
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso
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Funding Source:
National Science Foundation
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Recommended Citation
Cordero, Emanuel; Santiago, Yahaira; Lema, Carolina; Varela-Ramirez, Armando; and Aguilera, Renato J, "Cytotoxic Effects of
Creosote (Larrea Tridentata) Plant Extracts on Human Lymphoma Cells Lines" (2012). COURI Symposium Abstracts, Summer 2012.
Paper 8.
http://digitalcommons.utep.edu/couri_abstracts_sum12/8

2. Cytotoxic Effects of Creosote (Larrea Tridentata) Plant Extracts on
Human Lymphoma Cells Lines
Emanuel Cordero, Yahaira Santiago, Carolina Lema, Armando Varela-Ramirez, and Renato J Aguilera
Larrea tridentata also known as Creosote is a North American shrub, whose leave extracts are proposed to
contain anti-cancer properties. The main metabolite in this plant is the nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)
has been shown to have anti-neoplastic, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. NDGA is a strong anti-
oxidant that can scavenge or inhibit reactive oxygen spices production, stimulate nitric oxide production,
increase immune function, enhance central nervous system function, and prevent cardiovascular or other
diseases. Although extracts from this plant are currently used in Mexico as an herbal medicine, the Food and
Drug Administration and Health Canada have issued health hazard warming due to risk of damage to internal
organs. The National Institutes of Health have recommended that future research on this plant should include
detailed mechanisms of action, specificity, clinically relevant pharmacokinetic, therapeutic and toxicity
studies, in both animal models and human trials. The main goal of our research was to study the mechanisms
of cell death caused by creosote leave extracts on lymphoma cell lines and a non-transformed cell line using
various assays. Our results suggest that creosote extracts induce cell death in various lymphoma cell lines via
apoptosis. In addition, incubation with extracts appears to protect cells from oxidative stress. In the future, the
mechanism(s) of action of the creosote extract on mammalian cells will be examined in more detail. Another
future goal is to determine if NDGA can mediate the same cytotoxic and anti-oxidative stress effects that have
been identified from L. tridentata extract.
This article is available at DigitalCommons@UTEP: http://digitalcommons.utep.edu/couri_abstracts_sum12/8