The hydroalcoholic extract of Baneh leaves (Pistacia atlantica) induces apoptosis in the breast cancer cells
WCRJ 2020;
7: e1458
DOI: 10.32113/wcrj_20201_1458
Topic: Breast cancer, Complementary and alternative medicine
Category: Original article
Abstract
Objective: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers among women, which has widespread in recent years in Iran. Wild Pistachio (Pistacia Atlantica), known as Baneh in Iran, is a medicinal plant. The present study aimed to test the anti-tumor properties of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Baneh leaves in MCF-7 breast cancerous cells.
Materials and Methods: The MTT assay, morphologic analysis, and DNA fragmentation assay were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects of the Baneh leaves hydro-alcoholic extract on the proliferation of cancerous cells (MCF-7) and normal ones (L929). The mRNA expression levels of some apoptotic genes, including p53, caspase-8, caspase-3, bax, and bcl-2 were measured by real-time PCR.
Results: Data analysis demonstrated that the IC50 value for MCF-7 and L929 cells after 48-hours treatment with extract was 250 g/mL and 400 g/mL, respectively. The morphologic analysis and DNA fragmentation assay confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis in both L929 and MCF-7 cells after treatment with the Baneh extract at IC50 concentration. It gives the idea that up-regulation of caspase-8, caspase-3, p53, and bax genes decrease in the expression of bcl-2 gene, showing that the Baneh extract induces apoptosis through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of programmed cell death in MCF-7 cells.
Conclusions: Breast cancer cells are more sensitive to the treatment with the Baneh extract compared to normal cells, making this extract a promising candidate to be used in the preparation of anti-cancer drugs against breast cancer cells with fewer side effects on healthy cells.
Materials and Methods: The MTT assay, morphologic analysis, and DNA fragmentation assay were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects of the Baneh leaves hydro-alcoholic extract on the proliferation of cancerous cells (MCF-7) and normal ones (L929). The mRNA expression levels of some apoptotic genes, including p53, caspase-8, caspase-3, bax, and bcl-2 were measured by real-time PCR.
Results: Data analysis demonstrated that the IC50 value for MCF-7 and L929 cells after 48-hours treatment with extract was 250 g/mL and 400 g/mL, respectively. The morphologic analysis and DNA fragmentation assay confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis in both L929 and MCF-7 cells after treatment with the Baneh extract at IC50 concentration. It gives the idea that up-regulation of caspase-8, caspase-3, p53, and bax genes decrease in the expression of bcl-2 gene, showing that the Baneh extract induces apoptosis through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of programmed cell death in MCF-7 cells.
Conclusions: Breast cancer cells are more sensitive to the treatment with the Baneh extract compared to normal cells, making this extract a promising candidate to be used in the preparation of anti-cancer drugs against breast cancer cells with fewer side effects on healthy cells.
To cite this article
The hydroalcoholic extract of Baneh leaves (Pistacia atlantica) induces apoptosis in the breast cancer cells
WCRJ 2020;
7: e1458
DOI: 10.32113/wcrj_20201_1458
Publication History
Submission date: 17 Aug 2019
Revised on: 07 Oct 2019
Accepted on: 28 Nov 2019
Published online: 21 Jan 2020
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