Uncovering the Mechanisms of Angelica glauca Edgew. In Breast Cancer: A Combined In Vitro and In Silico Approach

Angelica glauca Edgew. is a medicinal herb native to the Himalayan region, renowned for its significant therapeutic potential and traditional use in treating various ailments. However, it has not been extensively investigated with pertinent scientific validation to establish its pharmacological relevance. This study aims to elucidate the anticancer potential of A. glauca essential oil on breast cancer by integrating in vitro and in silico approaches. The phytochemical profile of essential oil revealed the presence of important bioactive components including phthalide ((Z)-Ligustilide, 3-Butyl phthalide), monoterpene (alpha-terpineol, limonene), and sesquiterpene ((-)-Caryophyllene oxide, Kessane). The in vitro cytotoxicity using the MTT assay revealed the effectiveness of essential oil in reducing cancer cell viability and exhibited percent inhibition with IC₅₀ 91.77, 105.59, and 114.02 µg/mL for root, seed, and leaf, respectively. In addition, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assay demonstrated MMP disruption, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay showed increased ROS generation in the MCF-7 cells. In silico analysis identified three potential targets against breast cancer, that is, SRC, ESR1, and EGFR. Overall, our study highlighted the potential of A. glauca essential oil as a new therapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment and paves the way for further drug discovery.