RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Dendropanax morbiferus H. Lév. Leaf Extract Inhibits the Proliferation of MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells and Induces Apoptosis via the MAPK Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 3047 OP 3056 DO 10.21873/anticanres.16476 VO 43 IS 7 A1 CHOI, EUN-YOUNG A1 JUNG, GI-HWAN A1 WOO, JOONG-SEOK A1 LEE, JAE-HAN A1 HAN, SO-HEE A1 JUNG, SOO-HYUN A1 KIM, SAE-MAN A1 KIM, EUN-HA A1 RO, JU-YE A1 KIM, KWANG-JOONG A1 JUNG, JI-YOUN YR 2023 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/43/7/3047.abstract 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.