Isojamaicin, one of the isoflavonoids from Millettia griffoniana Baill (Fabaceae) has anticancer effect on human prostate cancer cells.

Objectives: The incidence of cancer, a second leading cause of death globally, continues to rise steadily, and could reach 28.4 million cases by 2040, if no action is taken. Prostate cancer, the second most common cancer in men globally following lung cancer, accounted for 1,414,259 new cases and led to 375,304 deaths in 2022. Chemotherapy and surgery remain the major treatments however, they are associated with side effects. In this study, the anticancer potentials of ten (10) isoflavonoids from Millettia griffoniana Bail was explored.

Methods: Anti-cell growth (MTT), proliferative (CCK-8) and clonogenic effects of these isoflavonoids were investigated. Furthermore, the most potent compound (isojamaicin) was investigated for its potential to induce apoptosis, inhibit cell migration/invasion and cell adhesion.

Results: Out of the 10 isoflavonoids isolated from M. griffoniana, isojamaicin significantly inhibited PC3 and LNCaP cell growth and proliferation in a concentration dependent manner. It also significantly (p<0.001) inhibited PC3 cell clone formation. It induced a potent (near 40 %) increment of apoptotic cell population in PC3 cells at both 30 and 60 μg/mL; which was followed by a notable increase in caspase-3 activity. Isojamaicin induced potent inhibition of PC3 cell invasion/migration and increased adhesion of PC3 cells to the extracellular matrix (collagen).

Conclusions: This study provides an unprecedented report of the anti-prostate cancer potential of isojamaicin and its possible underlying mechanisms. It merits further in vivo research to support the in vitro findings.