Comparing Apoptosis and Necrosis Effects of Arctium Lappa Root Extract and Doxorubicin on MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 Cell Lines

Abstract

Objective: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and very common malignancy in women worldwide. The efficacy of chemotherapy as an important part of breast cancer treatment is limited due to its side effects. While pharmaceutical companies are looking for better chemicals, research on traditional medicines that generally have fewer side effects is quite interesting. In this study, apoptosis and necrosis effect of Arctium lappa and doxorubicin was compared in MCF7, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Materials and Methods: MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 containing 10% FBS and 100 U/ml penicillin/streptomycin. MTT assay and an annexin V/propidium iodide (AV/PI) kit were used respectively to compare the survival rate and apoptotic effects of different concentrations of doxorubicin and Arctium lappa root extract on MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 cells. Results: Arctium lappa root extract was able to reduce cell viability of the two cell lines in a dose and time dependent manner similar to doxorubicin. Flow cytometry results showed that similar to doxorubicin, Arctium Lappa root extract had a dose and time dependent apoptosis effect on both cell lines. 10μg/mL of Arctium lappa root extract and 5 μM of doxorubicin showed the highest anti-proliferative and apoptosis effect in MCF7 and MDA231 cells. Conclusion: The MCF7 (ER/PR-) and MDA-MB-231 (ER/PR+) cell lines represent two major breast cancer subtypes. The similar anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of Arctium lappa root extract and doxorubicin (which is a conventional chemotherapy drug) on two different breast cancer cell lines strongly suggests its anticancer effects and further studies.

Keywords: Arctium lappa; Doxorubicin; breast cancer; apoptosis; cell lines.

Figure 1

Viability of MCF7 (A) and MDA-MB-231 (B) Cells after Treatment with Different Concentrations and Incubation Times of Doxorubicin

Figure 2

Viability of MCF7 (A) and MDA-MB-231 (B) Cells after 24, 48 and 72 H Incubation with Different Concentrations of Arctium Lappa Root Extract

Figure 3

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Apoptosis in MCF7 (A) and MDA-MB-231 (B) cells induced by various concentrations of DOX (0, 0.1, 1 and 5 µM) for 72 hours. In each scattergraph, cells in the Q1 are necrotic cells which are labelled only with PI. The cells in Q2 are late apoptotic cells, which are labelled with both PI and Annexin V. Normal cells are in Q3 that are not labelled with PI or Annexin V. In Q4 cells are labelled only with Annexin V and are early apoptotic cells

Figure 4

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Apoptosis in MCF7 (A) and MDA-MB-231 (B) cells induced by various concentrations of Arctium lappa root extract (0, 0.1, 1 and 10 µg/ml) for 72 hours. The cells in Q1 are necrotic cells which are labelled only with PI. Cells in the Q2 are late apoptotic cells, which are labelled with both PI and Annexin V. Normal cells are in Q3 that are not labelled with PI or Annexin V. In Q4 cells are labelled only with Annexin V and are early apoptotic cells