Goji berry fruit extracts induce cytotoxicity and apoptotic cell death in breast cancer cells

Abstract

: Anti-cancer agents derived from dietary medicinal plants are of great interest among people. The fruits of the Goji berry ( Lycium barbarum L., Fam. Solanaceae), also known as the ‘King of the Berries’, have valuable health benefits and pharmacological properties thanks to their rich content of phytochemicals. Considering the wide range of biological and pharmacological properties of goji berries, it was aimed to investigate the anticancer, antiproliferative and apoptotic cell death activities against human breast adenocarcinoma and carcinoma cells, MCF-7 and T47D, respectively. In the present study, the anticancer activities of the extracts were evaluated using MTT assay, the antiproliferative effects were investigated using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) cell proliferation assay, and the apoptotic cell death activities of the extracts were analyzed by immunological-based ELISA. As the main result of this research, it was found that extracts of goji berries significantly decreased the cell viability of breast cancer cells and caused these cells to undergo apoptosis-mediated cell death in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Among the tested extracts, methanol extracts showed the highest anticancer activity against MCF-7 and T47D cells (IC 50 =54.06±0.05 µ g/mL and 76.14±0.38 µ g/mL, p<0.01, respectively), while the lowest activity was observed in goji berry extracts prepared with dichloromethane (IC 50 =101.05±0.14 µ g/mL, p<0.05 and 124.10±0.86 µ g/mL, p<0.01, respectively). Moreover, the methanol extracts caused the strongest antiproliferative activity in MCF-7 cells (p<0.05). Regarding the apoptotic cell death potential of the extracts, increased apoptotic cell death was observed in both breast cancer cells, however, apoptotic cell death occurred more strongly in MCF-7 cells than in T47D cells. Consequently, this study suggests that goji berries could be valuable natural sources for the development of herbal formulations against breast cancer. Accordingly, further detailed studies should be conducted to elucidate the molecular signaling pathways and mechanisms of action.