Cyclamen persicum Bulb Extract Modulates NF-κB, Oxidative Stress, and Apoptotic Pathways in Triple-Negative Breast...

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Oncology

Background:

• Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents a significant clinical challenge due to its aggressive nature and limited treatment options.
• Natural products offer a promising avenue for discovering novel anticancer therapeutics.
• Cyclamen persicum (CPE) is explored for its potential anticancer properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the phytochemical composition of ethanolic Cyclamen persicum bulb extract (CPE).
• To evaluate the in vitro anticancer activity of CPE, with a focus on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells.
• To explore the potential of CPE as a source of novel anticancer agents.

Main Methods:

• Phytochemical profiling of CPE using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).
• Assessment of antioxidant activity via DPPH radical scavenging assay.
• Evaluation of anticancer effects in MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells, including viability, proliferation (Ki-67), signaling pathways, migration, invasion, adhesion, and aggregation assays.
• Testing antiproliferative effects in prostate, pancreatic, and intestinal cancer cell lines.

Main Results:

• LC-MS analysis revealed multiple bioactive polyphenolic and organic acid constituents in CPE.
• CPE exhibited strong antioxidant activity and significantly reduced viability and proliferation in MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells.
• CPE modulated proliferative and survival signaling, induced apoptosis markers, reduced cell migration and invasion, and promoted cell-cell aggregation, suggesting a less aggressive phenotype. Effects on NF-κB signaling were observed.
• Antiproliferative effects were also noted in prostate, pancreatic, and intestinal cancer cell lines.

Conclusions:

• Ethanolic C. persicum bulb extract demonstrates multimodal in vitro anticancer activity, particularly against TNBC.
• CPE possesses bioactive compounds with potential for further mechanistic and translational research in cancer therapy.
• These findings underscore the therapeutic promise of C. persicum as a natural source for anticancer drug development.