PROJECT PROPOSAL

(PHYSICAL SCIENCE)

PROJECT TITLE: FRUIT EXTRACT OF DRAGON FRUIT (Hylocereus polyrhizus)

AGAINST CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA IN VITRO ANALYSIS

PROPONENTS:

Lawrence Karl Czemver M. Corpuz

Ashley Gwyneth F. Colasito
Gerald Angelo B. Villamin
Kent Carlos K. Ordinario
John Dencel P. Pradias
Khruzhade P. Obusan
Princess E. Obusan
Gian M. Belarma
Jolina P. Vale

SIGNIFICANCE:

Cancer, a very fatal and baleful disease that played humanity for centuries
and caused suffering and countless cases of death not only in the Philippines but
also around the world. To clarify this disease, the researchers will research further
the fruit known as dragon fruit that contains flavonoids, lycopene, polyphenols, and
betanin which is the basis for curing cancer. The researchers will conduct this
research to inspire cancer patients to fight this fatal disease.

This research will help the researcherd to attain more knowledge about
dragon fruit as anti-cancer and acquire informations about biologically active
compounds in dragon fruit.

OBJECTIVES:

This project aims to:

1. Find out what component of dragon fruit can cure cancer.

2. Examine the effect of methanol extract in anti-cancer capacities of Hylocereus
polyrhizus jelly.
3. Assess the potential of red-flesh dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) as
reducing agent of cancer.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE:

Dragon fruit grows on the Hylocereus cactus, also known as the Honolulu Queen
whose flowers only open at night. Dragon Fruit is also known as Hylocereus undatus
or Hylocereus polyrhizus. Dragon fruit is a good source of antioxidants and it boost
our immune system due to it Vitamin C content. Red dragon fruit is a good source of
flavonoids and lycopene. Flavonoids and lycopene can reduce the number of cancer
cells.
According Sreekanth et al., pitaya extract compounds (betacyanin and
anthocyanin) and pigments act on Human Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cell Line (K562)
that lead to human chronic myeloid leukemia altering the integrity of the mitochondrial
membrane, leading to leakage of cytochrome c, caspase activation, and nuclear
disintegration. Asmah et al. reported that a red and white pitaya pulp are rich in
polyphenols and a methanol extract showed promising antioxidant and antiproliferative
capacity. Drgon fruit also contains carotene, which is linked to several anti-carcinogenic
qualities. Leukemia is a type of blood cancer found and bone marrow and is caused yby
the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. These abnormal white blood cells
are not able to fight infection and impair the ability of the bone marrow to produce red
blood cells and platelets. Leukemia can be either acute or chronic. Chronic Leukemia
progresses more slowly than Acute Leukemia, which require immediate treatment.
Leukemia is also classified as lymphocytic or myelogenous. Lymphocytic Leukemia refers
to abnormal cell growth int the lymphoid stem cells that become lymphocytes, a type of
white blood cell that plays a role in the immune system. In myelogenous leukemia
abnormal cell growth occurs in the myeloid stem cells that mature into red blood cells,
white blood celss and platelets.
Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated. It is the most common
type of acute leukemia in adults. In Acute Myeloid Leukemia, the myeloid stem cells
usually become a type of immature white blood cell called myeloblasts. The myeloblasts
in Acute Myeloid Leukemia are abnormal and do not become healthy white blood cells.
Sometimes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia, too many stem cells or platelets are also called
leukemia cells or blasts. Leukemia cells can build up in the bone marrow and blood so
there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. When this
happens, infection, anemia, or easy bleeding may occur. The leukemia cells can spread
outside the blood to other parts of the body, including the central nervous system (brain
and spinal cord), skin and gums.

In 2014, Thao et al. found that β-amyrin exhibited some cytotoxicity against Human
Alveolar Epithelial Cell Line or Human Lung Cancer Cell Line (A549) and Human
Leukemia Cell Line (HL-60) ca with IC50 values of 46.2 and 38.6 μM, respectively. In 2012,
Lin et al. studied the chemical constituents of Rabdosia serra (MAXIM.) HARA, and
found β-sitosterol isolated from the plant have significant cytotoxic activities against
Human Liver Cancer Cell Line (HepG-2), Human Breast Cancer Cell Line (MCF-7), and
Human Leukemia Cell Line (HL-60). Stigmast-4-en-3-one also displayed high antitumor-
promoting activity. According to Ge et al., Human Female Breast Cancer Cell Line (MDA-
MB-435) is resistant to drugs in vitro breast cancer, due to the presence of high levels
of GSTP1 mRNA expression when compared to the levels expressed in Human Breast
Cancer Cell Line (MCF-7). According Sreekanth et al., pitaya extract compounds
(betacyanin and anthocyanin) and pigments act on Human Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Cell Line (K562) that lead to human chronic myeloid leukemia altering the integrity of
the mitochondrial membrane, leading to leakage of cytochrome c, caspase activation,
and nuclear disintegration. Asmah et al. reported that a red and white pitaya pulp are
rich in polyphenols and a methanol extract showed promising antioxidant and
antiproliferative capacity when used to treat cervix cancer cells (HeLa) and cytotoxic
effect on human oral cancer cell metastases induced by B16-F10 melanoma.