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Aloin Induces Selective Cytotoxicity and Apoptotic Pathway Activation in Breast and Prostate Cancer Cells via

Mohammadreza Dastouri1, Buse Sanli1

  • 1Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Ankara Medipol University, Ankara 06570, Turkey.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|June 26, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Aloin from Aloe vera shows selective cancer cell killing. It activates apoptosis pathways in breast and prostate cancer cells but spares normal cells, offering a potential new cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Breast and prostate cancers are leading global malignancies with limited treatment selectivity.
  • Conventional therapies often fail to target cancer cells specifically, leading to side effects.
  • Aloin, a compound from Aloe vera, has shown potential anticancer effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the selective cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Aloin on breast (MCF-7) and prostate (PC-3) cancer cell lines.
  • To compare Aloin's effects on cancer cells versus normal prostate epithelial cells (PNT-A1).
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying Aloin-induced cell death.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro cell culture of MCF-7, PC-3, and PNT-A1 cell lines.
  • Cytotoxicity assessment using CCK-8 assay.
  • Apoptotic morphology evaluation via Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) microscopy.
  • Protein and gene expression analysis of apoptosis markers (BAX, Caspase-3, -8, -9) using immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR.
  • Bioinformatic analyses including pathway enrichment and protein-protein interaction networks.

Main Results:

  • Aloin demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and PC-3 cells, with significant selectivity over PNT-A1 cells (Selectivity Index > 1.30).
  • Upregulation of pro-apoptotic genes BAX, CASP8, CASP9, and CASP3 was observed in cancer cells but not in normal cells.
  • Bioinformatic analysis confirmed these genes as key nodes in apoptotic signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Aloin exhibits significant in vitro anticancer activity by selectively inducing apoptosis in breast and prostate cancer cells.
  • The study identifies the activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways as the mechanism of Aloin's action.
  • This research provides a mechanistic basis for exploring Aloin as a potential therapeutic agent for epithelial cancers, particularly prostate cancer.
Keywords:
AloinBarbaloinMCF-7PC-3apoptosisbreast cancercytotoxicityextrinsic pathwayintrinsic pathwayprostate cancer

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