Combined and alone apoptotic effects of Ankaferd hemostat and silver nanoparticles on chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell line K562

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Ankaferd hemostat (ABS; Ankaferd Blood Stopper®) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), alone or in combination, on human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells. Materials and methods: The cytotoxicity of ABS and AgNPs on K562 CML cells was assessed using the XTT assay, measuring cell viability over time and across different doses. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was determined at 72 hours. Apoptosis-related gene expression was analyzed by Real-Time PCR, and oxidative stress was assessed by total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI). Results: AgNPs reduced cell viability at higher doses, with the IC50 for 40 nm AgNPs being 107.8854 ppm at 72 hours. ABS reduced cell viability by 75% even at maximum dose. Significant changes (p<0.05) were observed in bcl-2, caspase-8 and CDK4 in the AgNPs group. In the ABS group, bcl-2, and CDK4 expressions were significantly elevated. The combined treatment increased caspase-8 and caspase-9 expressions, promoting apoptosis. No significant differences were found in TAS-TOS, but all groups showed higher oxidant activity compared to the control, with the combination group exhibiting the highest antioxidant effect. Conclusion: ABS, a herbal treatment with minimal side effects, and AgNPs, a promising therapeutic agent, both showed potential in inhibiting tumor cells. Their combination enhanced apoptotic effects, warranting further investigation.