Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths of males in the United States. Although it is usually treatable, advanced or metastatic prostate cancer can be mortal. Our laboratory examines the use of various diet-derived compounds as potential chemotherapeutic agents for advanced prostate cancer. Currently, there is no curative therapy available once prostate cancer has metastasized or progressed to advanced disease. It is therefore imperative to develop alternative and effective therapies with novel mechanisms of action. After initial studies to identify and characterize medicinal plants that are indigenous to Antigua and Barbuda, Azadirachta Indica plant (Neem) was identified for its potential to inhibit cell growth in human prostate cancer cells. In this study, we examined the effects of nimbolide, a bioactive constituent of Neem on the cell growth and proliferation in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells, an advanced and androgen-sensitive cell line. LNCaP cells were exposed to varying concentrations (0, 1, 2, 5, 10 µM) of nimbolide for 24-72 hours. Preliminary data exhibit some growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner. These data suggest that nimbolide may have anti-proliferative activity in advanced prostate cancer cells.
