In-vitro Analysis of Solanum virginianum L. Extract and Melatonin: Synergistic Induction of Apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells.

Abstract

Solanum virginianum (Sv) herb finds widespread usage in various medical systems, notably it is a component of the traditional herbal formulation "Dashamula". Melatonin is widely acknowledged as a chemical and a cell defender owing to its anti-oxidative and immunomodulatory properties. Despite extensive references in traditional medicine, systematic evaluations of Solanum virginianum anticancer properties are scarce. Combination therapy has emerged as a promising strategy for tackling drug-resistant cancers, inhibiting tumour progression, and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. This study aims to investigate the anticancer effects of Solanum virginianum plant extract and melatonin, individually and in combination, on breast cancer cells. The anticancer potential of individual treatments, as well as combinations of Solanum virginianum leaf extract and melatonin, was evaluated using cell migration inhibition, clonogenic assay, DNA fragmentation assay, nuclear morphology study, flow cytometry (FACS) analysis, and gene expression investigation. The methanolic leaf extracts of Solanum virginianum demonstrated significant anti-proliferative effects on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Furthermore, the combination of Solanum virginianum methanolic leaf extract and melatonin exhibited anti-migratory and anti-tumorigenic properties. This was further confirmed by gene expression studies related to both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. Notably, In combination groups, there was an increased expression of apoptotic genes (CASP3 (p < 0.001), CASP8 (p < 0.05), CASP9 (p < 0.05), BAX (p < 0.01) and anti-inflammatory genes (IL4, IL10), along with a decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic gene (BCL2) and metastatic genes (MMP2, MMP9). Overall, present study is the first comprehensive investigation into the potential of Solanum virginianum as an anticancer agent in conjunction with melatonin, highlighting the promising application of a combination approach for breast cancer treatment.