The ability of metformin to enhance the cytotoxic profile of carboplatin in platinum resistant OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells was evaluated alone and in the presence of the FAK inhibitor PF-5733228. Metformin significantly increased OVCAR3 sensitivity to both carboplatin and PF-573228.

The cytotoxic effect of a hexane extract of Cassia alata (C alata) leaves in parental and Caspase 8, 3 and 9 negative A549 lung cancer cells was evaluated after a 24-hour treatment period. C alata extract was cytotoxic in parental and caspase-9 negative, but not caspase 3 and 8 negative A549 cells. The IC50 values were 143 μg/ml and 145 μg/ml in parental and caspase 9 negative A549 cells respectively. The flavanoid kaempferol was identified as a constituent of C alata leaf extract. These results suggest a cytotoxic effect of C alata that is dependent on caspase 8.

Crude methanolic extracts and solvent fractions of the aerial parts of Spermacoce verticillata, Ficus pumila and Flemingia strobilifera showed cytotoxic activity against a human leukaemia cell line. However, chloroform and butanol fractions of F pumila had significantly lower IC50 values.