The Pro-Apoptosis Induction of Teucrium persicum Ethyl Acetate Extract on MCF-7  Cells: An In Vitro Study

Mehdi  Moeil; Majid  Tafrihi; Ehsan  Nazifi; Maryam  Radfar

doi:10.18502/ajmb.v17i2.18564

Mehdi Moeil Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
Majid Tafrihi Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
Ehsan Nazifi Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
Maryam Radfar Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ajmb.v17i2.18564

Keywords: Apoptosis, Breast cancer, Cytotoxicity, Gene expression, Teucrium persicum

Abstract

Background: Teucrium persicum (T. persicum) is a well-known Iranian endemic plant that grows in the southern regions of Iran. It is used as a tea to treat abdominal pains, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes in traditional Iranian medicine. It has been previously found that the methanolic extract of T. persicum exerts significant cytotoxicity and inhibitory effects on different cancer cells. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ethyl acetate extract of T. persicum on MCF-7 cells.

Methods: The experiments included MTT, DAPI staining, and investigating the expression of BAX and BCL2 genes. The extract had a significant cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 50 µg/ml for 48 hr.

Results: DAPI staining assays showed that the extract induced morphological changes, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation. Additionally, the ethyl acetate extract induced the expression of BAX and down-regulated BCL2 genes.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that T. persicum has strong cytotoxic properties and warrants further investigation.