Augmentation of cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells by Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch roots

Worldwide, breast cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality for women.Anti-neoplastic medicines or treatments that cure tumours can lengthen life expectancy, but because of their wide range of adverse effects, it has been shown that they also degrade the quality of life.One possible medicinal plant found in the Himalayas with notable ethnopharmacological qualities is Saussurea costus (Falc.)Lipsch.The phytochemicals in S. costus give the plant its anticarcinogenic potential and guarantee that it has no or very few negative effects.This leads to the use of the plant as a therapeutic or preventive medication candidate for cancer.By using mammary cancer MCF-7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) cells at 20 g/ml, 50 g/ml, 100 g/ml, and 200 g/ml concentrations for 24, 48, and 72 h, percentage cytotoxicity and apoptotic (caspase-3/7 and annexin V/PI) activities were investigated.According to the results of in vitro tests, S. costus root extract stimulated the apoptotic activity of caspase-3/7 and annexin V/PI on the MCF-7 cells and positively affected antiproliferative activity.