Anti-cancer effects of methanolic Cordia myxa extract on caspase-3 in breast cancer cell line

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant diseases and the second cause of death among women in the world, and according to statistics, one in every 12 people suffers from breast cancer. Iranian patients with breast cancer are younger than their Western counterparts. Plant-based drugs are promising therapeutic agents against cancers. Cordia myxa is a plant of Boraginaceae family, widely cultivated in Iran. Thus, we assessed the effects of Cordia myxa extract on breast cancer cell line and the expression level of both caspase-3 gene and proteins.Methods: In this experimental study, the MCF-7cell line was selected for treatment with the various concentrations of Cordia myxa hydro-alcoholic extract. Cell proliferation was evaluated using MTT-method. Additionally, the impact of the Cordia myxa extract on the expression level of caspase-3 gene were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Finally, the levels of caspase-3 protein have been evaluated with western bolt method.Results: Cell proliferation studies represented anticancer characteristics of dose-dependent of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Cordia myxa. Furthermore, Cordia myxa hydro-alcoholic extract led to increase expression of caspase-3.Conclusion: In overall, Cordia myxa can be a proper choice for designing anticancer drugs as a potential candidate for major investigations on breast cancer. This plant could have a possible application for cancer treatment as another anti-cancer agent, as well as drug poisoning.

کلیدواژه ها:

Breast cancer ، Cordia myxa ، Caspase-3