Arctigenin and biochanin A impact on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells: In silico and in vitro analysis

Context: Breast cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among women, with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) being particularly aggressive. Phytoestrogens have shown potential as anti-cancer agents by reducing cancer cell viability and promoting apoptosis. This study investigates the anticancer effects of arctigenin and biochanin A, identified through molecular simulations, against TNBC. Aims: To assess the anticancer activity of arctigenin and biochanin A, alongside tamoxifen and doxorubicin as controls, using the MDA-MB-231 cell line. Methods: Molecular simulations were employed to identify arctigenin and biochanin A as potential compounds. The MTT assay and flow cytometry were utilized to evaluate their anticancer activity compared to tamoxifen and doxorubicin. Results: Both the MTT assay and flow cytometry demonstrated significant anticancer activity for arctigenin and biochanin A in the MDA-MB-231 cell line. Conclusions: The findings indicate that arctigenin and biochanin A exhibit promising anticancer properties against TNBC. Further research is essential to explore their mechanisms of action and efficacy in more complex biological systems. This study highlights the role of bioinformatics tools and experimental validation in identifying potential treatments for TNBC.