Bergenin Synergistically Enhances the Efficacy of Cisplatin and 5-FU: Strategy to Enhance Chemotherapy in Breast and Colorectal Cancer - An <i>In Vitro</i> Study

Background: The cytotoxic and synergistic efficacy of bergenin, a natural compound, against MCF-7 breast cancer and HCT 116 colorectal cancer cell lines was investigated. Bergenin, combined with cisplatin (Cis) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and be ultimately useful for dose reduction of chemotherapeutic agents. Methods: The in vitro study involved treating MCF-7 and HCT 116 cells with varying doses of bergenin, Cis, and 5-FU for 24 and 48 hours. The cytotoxic effects were measured using MTT assay, while synergistic activity was evaluated using CompuSyn. Fluorescent staining, colony forming, wound healing, cell cycle and apoptosis assays were performed to support the findings. Statistical significance less than 0.05 was considered and assessed using ANOVA (one-way or two-way) and Tukey’s test. Results: Bergenin showed a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation in both MCF-7 and HCT 116 cells, at 24 and 48 hours, respectively. Combining bergenin with Cis or 5-FU led to significant reductions (P&lt;0.0001) in their IC50 values. Multiple lines of evidence, including fluorescent staining, colony forming, wound healing, cell cycle and apoptosis assays, corroborated the statistically significant cytotoxic and synergistic effects of bergenin compared to control. Conclusion: This study underscores bergenin’s potential as a therapeutic agent in cancer treatment. Bergenin inhibits cell growth, induces apoptosis, and enhances the efficacy of Cis and 5-FU, suggesting its potential as an addition to existing treatment regimens. This necessitates further research, elucidating the clinical applications of bergenin in cancer therapy, which could improve treatment outcomes and reduce adverse effects associated with high doses of chemotherapeutic agents.