Effect of Lantana camara Ethanolic Leaf Extract on Survival and Migration of MDA-MB-231 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Line

Introduction

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Lantana camara has been reported to cure a number of ailments, with few studies showing its cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells. However, the impact of L. camara on triple-negative breast cancer cells is largely obscure to date. The present study investigated the effect of ethanolic extract of L. camara leaves on the triple-negative breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231.

Methods

Cytotoxic effect of the extract on the cells was determined by cell survival assay. Cell-cycle phase distribution was analysed using flow cytometry. To study the effect on nuclear morphology, nuclear-stained cells were visualised using epifluorescence microscopy. The induction of apoptosis and generation of reactive oxygen species were conducted using flow cytometry. Cellular migration was studied by performing wound healing assay. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was done to determine the mRNA levels of some key genes.

Results

L. camara leaf extract induced cytomorphological changes and growth-inhibitory effect on MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The extract also induced G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest and nuclear condensation. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed cell death by apoptosis. L. camara leaf extract also reduced the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. mRNA expression levels also supported the above observations.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the efficacy of the extract to induce growth-inhibitory and antimigratory effects on MDA-MB-231 cells. Our results thus suggest that L. camara leaf extract can be considered as a potent source of chemotherapeutic agents for triple-negative breast cancer.