Jordanian Ducrosia flabellifolia Inhibits Proliferation of Breast Cancer Cells by Inducing Apoptosis

Aims: to evaluate the potential apoptosis inducing effect of Ducrosia flabellifolia extracts against different cancer cell lines.
Methodology: The antiproliferative activity of Ducrosia flabellifolia extracts was tested against three cell lines using MTT assay. The apoptosis induction ability of ethanol extract was determined using TUNEL colorimetric assay while agarose gel electrophoresis was used to detect DNA fragmentation. Morphological changes associated with apoptosis were observed using scanning electron microscopy. LC/MS-MS analysis was used to determine the main flavonoids present in the plant extract.
Results: Ducrosia flabellifolia ethanol extract showed selective antiproliferative activity against different cell lines. The highest activity was against MCF-7 cell line with IC50 value of 25.34 μg/mL, followed by Hep-2 cell line with IC50 value of 98.01 μg/mL. While the lowest activity was against Vero cell line with IC50 value of 98.01 μg/mL. The antiproliferative effect was exerted by inducing apoptosis as indicted by the presence of DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation, and formation of apoptotic bodies in treated cancer cells. LC/MS-MS analysis revealed the presence of five flavonoids (quercetin, fisetin, kaempferol, luteolin, and apigenin) and their derivatives in the extract.
Conclusion: The apoptosis inducing ability of Ducrosia flabellifolia ethanol extract validate the use of this plant in traditional medicine to treat cancer. The anticancer synergistic effect of Ducrosia flabellifoliacompounds has broad implication for understanding the anticancer potential of plant natural products in vivo, where different compounds may act in concert to reduce tumor burden.