PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - CHOI, EUN-YOUNG
AU  - JUNG, GI-HWAN
AU  - WOO, JOONG-SEOK
AU  - LEE, JAE-HAN
AU  - HAN, SO-HEE
AU  - JUNG, SOO-HYUN
AU  - KIM, SAE-MAN
AU  - KIM, EUN-HA
AU  - RO, JU-YE
AU  - KIM, KWANG-JOONG
AU  - JUNG, JI-YOUN
TI  - <em>Dendropanax morbiferus</em> H. Lév. Leaf Extract Inhibits the Proliferation of MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells and Induces Apoptosis <em>via</em> the MAPK Pathway <em>In Vitro</em> and <em>In Vivo</em>
AID  - 10.21873/anticanres.16476
DP  - 2023 Jul 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 3047--3056
VI  - 43
IP  - 7
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/43/7/3047.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/43/7/3047.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2023 Jul 01; 43
AB  - Background/Aim: The toxic side effects of therapies against breast cancer can affect the quality of life of patients, necessitating the use of naturally-derived therapeutics. Here, we investigated the effects of Dendropanax morbiferus H. Lév. leaf (DPL) extract on breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo to assess its anticancer potential. Materials and Methods: MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were treated with DPL, and the in vitro effect of DPL on the cells was evaluated through an MTT assay, DAPI staining, annexin V/propidium iodide double staining, and western blotting. The in vivo effects of DPL were measured through the MDA-MB-231 tumor xenograft mouse model. A TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the extent of apoptosis and p-p38 expression in tumor tissues, respectively. Results: DPL treatment significantly suppressed cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, DPL treatment resulted in increased apoptotic body formation, apoptosis rate, cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein levels, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway proteins, and decreased Bcl-2 levels. In addition, the antitumor effect in vivo was confirmed through the xenograft model, where decreased tumor volume and weight following DPL administration were observed. Further, apoptosis and increased p-p38 levels in tumor tissues were observed, and no pathological abnormalities were found in the liver or kidney. Conclusion: DPL inhibits proliferation through MAPK-mediated apoptosis in breast cancer cells and tumors, suggesting the potential of DPL as a natural therapeutic agent for breast cancer.