Anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and chemosensitizing effects of carthamus tinctorius (safflower) extract on breast cancer cell line WCRJ 2023; 10: e2622
DOI: 10.32113/wcrj_20237_2622

  Topic: Breast cancer     Category: Original article

Rezazadeh D. Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran , Nemati H. Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran , Khani F. Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran , Darabi F. Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran , Jalili C. Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
cjalili@yahoo.com Abstract Objective: Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and one of the major causes of cancer deaths in women. Considering the increasing prevalence of this cancer and the ineffectiveness of common treatments, finding new treatment strategies seems necessary. In this study, the anti-proliferative properties of aqueous, methanolic, and ethanolic extracts of Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) were evaluated. Then, the pro-apoptotic, and chemosensitizing effects of the most cytotoxic extract were tested.

Materials and Methods: The aqueous, methanolic, and ethanolic extracts of the plant were prepared and their effects on the viability of MCF-7 breast cancer cells were investigated after 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr treatment by MTT assay. The extract with the most effect was selected. The effect of the extract on apoptosis was estimated using Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and Real-time PCR. Then, the effect of co-treatment with the extract and tamoxifen was investigated using compusyn software.

Results: Among aqueous, methanolic, and ethanolic extracts, ethanolic extract had the greatest effect in reducing the viability of cancer cells. This extract significantly increased apoptosis and Bax/Bcl-2 expression (p<0.05). The co-treatment with extract and tamoxifen showed synergistic toxicity.

Conclusions: The safflower plant has anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on breast cancer cells and can synergistically intensify the toxic effect of tamoxifen.

To cite this article Rezazadeh D. Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran , Nemati H. Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran , Khani F. Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran , Darabi F. Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran , Jalili C. Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
cjalili@yahoo.com Anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and chemosensitizing effects of carthamus tinctorius (safflower) extract on breast cancer cell line

WCRJ 2023; 10: e2622
DOI: 10.32113/wcrj_20237_2622

Publication History

Submission date: 27 Apr 2023

Revised on: 12 Jun 2023

Accepted on: 13 Jul 2023

Published online: 25 Jul 2023

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.