Anticancer potential of ethanolic <i>Bacopa monnieri</i> L. extract: induction of intrinsic apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells.

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches. This study explores the anticancer potential of ethanolic extract of <i>Bacopa monnieri</i> (<i>B. monnieri</i>) against A549 lung cancer cells. Treatment with various concentrations of <i>B. monnieri</i> for 24 and 48 hours significantly reduced cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, as demonstrated by MTT assays. Mechanistically, <i>B. monnieri</i> treatment elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, depleted antioxidant defenses, disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and triggered cytochrome C release, culminating in apoptosis. Apoptotic cell death was confirmed using acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) dual staining. Additionally, Western blot and mRNA analysis showed downregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and upregulation of pro-apoptotic markers, including Bax, caspase-3, and PARP, indicating activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. These results suggest that <i>B. monnieri</i> exerts its anticancer effects by modulating critical molecular pathways involved in cell survival and apoptosis. This study underscores the potential of <i>B. monnieri</i> as a promising therapeutic agent for lung cancer treatment. Further research is warranted to investigate its pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy in preclinical models.