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Evaluation of Proliferative Inhibition Effect of Moringa oleifera Total Extract on Breast Cancer: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study

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Abstract

The effectiveness of chemical drugs has been reduced by the resistance of cancer cells to chemical drugs, such as breast cancer as one of the most common cancers in women. Hence, it is important to study the development of more effective drugs with fewer side effects, such as herbs. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) grown in Iran with anti-cancer properties in the inhibition of apoptosis and proliferation in breast cancer cells. MO extract was prepared in this study while confirming phenolic compounds, namely quercetin, gallic acid, and folic acid, through HPLC methods. Afterward, the apoptotic and anti-proliferative impacts of phenolic compounds were evaluated on 4T1 breast cancer cells via MTT, BrdU, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and caspases-9 and -3 activity assays. Furthermore, ELISA was applied to evaluate BAX/Bcl2 ratio. MO extract (0.02, 0.04, and 0.08 g daily for four weeks) was used to treat the BALB/c mice. The size of tumors was measured. MO reduced the proliferation significantly and induced apoptosis (P < 0.01). Furthermore, tumor volume in MO-treated mice was decreased. The reduction in tumor volume at 0.02 g dose was higher than the other two doses (P < 0.001). According to in vitro results, the apoptotic pathway was possibly induced by activating caspases-9 and -3 and an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Through the in vivo results, and significant reduction in tumor size, new evidence was added to the possible treatment of breast tumor provoking intrinsic apoptotic paths.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are gratefully acknowledging from research council of Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular and Cell Biochemistry, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

    Ali Yousefirad, Ali Asghar Rastegari & Kahin Shahanipour

  2. Department of Biology, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

    Ramesh Monajemi

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  1. Ali Yousefirad
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  2. Ali Asghar Rastegari
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Correspondence to Ali Asghar Rastegari.

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Yousefirad, A., Rastegari, A.A., Shahanipour, K. et al. Evaluation of Proliferative Inhibition Effect of Moringa oleifera Total Extract on Breast Cancer: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study. Iran J Sci 47, 653–662 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-023-01434-6

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