Efficacy of medicinal plants from Algeria on cell proliferation: Involvement of caspases 3/7 and cell cycle disorder

Abstract Introduction Cancer is the main cause of mortality worldwide, and finding effective treatments with fewer side effects is crucial. Medicinal plants offer significant potential in this area. They contain bioactive compounds that may have antitumor effects. The aim of this study is to assess the cytotoxicity of various medicinal plants towards several cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods Antiproliferative activity of extracts from Crataegus monogyna , Rhamnus alaternus , Lavandula dentata , Aristolochia baetica , Erica arborea , Cistus lanifedus on cell lines: A-498 (kidney carcinoma), HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), PLC/PRF/5 (hepatoma), MDA-MB-231 (breast adenocarcinoma), MV-4-11 (biphenotypic B myelomonocytic leukemia), and one non-tumorigenic murine fibroblast BALB/3T3 by colorimetric methods using Sulforhodamine B (SRB) and tetrazolium salt (MTT), enzyme caspases 3/7 activity, and cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry. Statistical analysis was performed by the Shapiro–Wilk and Brown–Forsythe tests ensured normality and variance equality, respectively, followed by one-way ANOVA (Dunnett’s and Tukey’s tests) for caspase 3/7 and two-way ANOVA (Dunnett’s test) for cell cycle analysis. Results Aristolochia baetica ( Aristolochiaceae ) and Lavandula dentata ( Lamiacea e) extracts have significant antiproliferative properties with caspase 3/7-independent activity which implies that the cytotoxicity of this extracts induces cell death through non-apoptotic mechanisms. Extracts from lavender and aristolochia exhibit antiproliferative effects by disrupting cell cycle progression, leading to the accumulation of dead cells in the sub-G1 phase. Conclusion These two species show promising therapeutic potential as antiproliferative agents, operating through mechanisms distinct from those of conventional chemotherapeutic agents.