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Cytotoxicity and Proapoptotic Effects of Allium atroviolaceum Flower Extract by Modulating Cell Cycle Arrest and

Somayeh Khazaei1, Roslida Abdul Hamid1, Vasudevan Ramachandran2

  • 1Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : Ecam
|December 19, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Allium atroviolaceum flower extract shows anticancer potential against breast cancer. It inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis, offering a promising complementary treatment option.

Area of Science:

  • Phytochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death globally.
  • Limited research exists on the therapeutic potential of *Allium atroviolaceum*.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the anticancer effects of *Allium atroviolaceum* flower extract on human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231).
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action, including cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and potential synergy with tamoxifen.

Main Methods:

  • Cell proliferation assays
  • Cell cycle analysis (flow cytometry)
  • Apoptosis assays (Annexin-V staining, microscopy)
  • Western blotting for key proteins (Cdk1, Bcl-2)
  • Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for compound identification
  • Combination studies with tamoxifen

Main Results:

  • The extract inhibited proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner.
  • It induced S and G2/M phase arrest in MCF-7 cells and S phase arrest in MDA-MB-231 cells, via a p53-independent pathway involving decreased Cdk1.
  • Apoptosis was induced in both cell lines, evidenced by increased sub-G0 population, morphological changes, and Annexin-V positivity, linked to Bcl-2 downregulation and caspase activation.
  • Synergistic effects were observed when combined with tamoxifen.
  • LC-MS identified 17 major compounds in the extract.

Conclusions:

  • *Allium atroviolaceum* flower extract exhibits significant anticancer activity against breast cancer cells.
  • The extract's mechanisms involve cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction.
  • It holds potential as a complementary therapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment.

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