In Vitro Anticancer Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract from Nepeta nuda L. ssp. nuda

Despite significant efforts, cancer remains the second leading cause of mortality worldwide. The medicinal plant <i>Nepeta nuda</i> L. represents a valuable source of biologically active compounds with pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral. This study aimed to assess the antiproliferative potential and mechanisms of action of aqueous extract from the leaves of wild-grown <i>N. nuda</i>. Cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231, MCF7 (breast), HT29, Colon 26 (colon), and HepG2 (liver cancer), and a non-cancerous skin cell line, BJ, were assessed for antiproliferative activity by MTT assay and observation of cell morphological alterations. The cancer cell line that was most sensitive to the extract was further studied for apoptotic alterations by Annexin V/propidium iodide staining, colony-forming assay, and qRT-PCR analysis. The results revealed that the plant extract inhibited the proliferation of all investigated cancer cell lines with the strongest cytostatic effect on Colon 26 cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 380.2 μg/mL and a selectivity index (SI) of 3.5. The extract significantly inhibited the ability of cells to form colonies, exhibited considerable proapoptotic potential involving the participation of the <i>CASP8</i> gene, and increased the expression levels of <i>ATG3</i> and the <i>BECN1</i> gene, which suggests a role of autophagic cell death in the antitumor action.