Cytotoxic, Cell Apoptosis, Colony Formation and Anti-Migratory Activity of Three Herbal Plant Extracts in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

Herbal medicine has emerged as a safe and readily accessible reservoir of compounds for the treatment of cancer. This work focused on the anticancer activity of three herbal plant extracts in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) Wall. ex Nees (AP), Momordica charantia L (MC) and Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth (PP) were extracted with 95% ethanol using the maceration method. Their impacts on biological processes, including cytotoxicity, cell apoptosis, colony formation, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell migration, were assessed using sulforhodamine B (SRB), dye staining with mixtures of acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB), a clonogenic method, flow cytometry using a DCF-DA fluorescent probe and a scratch wound healing method, respectively. The study revealed that the AP, MC and PP extracts exerted anticancer activity in MCF-7 cells through the induction of cytotoxicity, cell apoptosis and ROS levels and the suppression of cell growth and migration. All extracts displayed cytotoxic effects and triggered dose-dependent apoptosis in MCF-7 cells at concentrations ranging from 0 to 500 μg/mL and 0 to 250 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, they showed dose-dependent anti-migratory activity in MCF-7 cells at concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 μg/mL. Compared to the MC and PP extracts, the extract of AP exhibited the strongest anticancer properties against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, suggesting its potential utility as an anticancer agent to both prevent and treat breast cancer.