Ethanol Extract of Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana var. şeneriana Inhibits Human Breast Cancer Cell Viability through Induction of Apoptosis

Novel natural compounds became the new promising source for alternative drug production for cancer treatment. Several studies have reported that different species of pine genus show cytotoxic activities against various cancer cell lines. In the present study, the possible cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of the endemic Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana var. seneriana (PS) extract in MCF-7 breast cancer cells were evaluated. Cell viability was determined via XTT assay and verified by live/dead viability/cytotoxicity assay. Apoptotic effect was investigated by mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assay. Expression of apoptosis related proteins after treatment with PS extract was detected by apoptosis array. PS extract treatment reduced the viability of MCF-7 cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner. Apoptosis was induced and MMP was decreased in MCF-7 cells by 48 h treatment. Bcl-2, cIAP-1, cIAP-2, Survivin and XIAP protein levels were reduced by 2.8-, 3.2-, 2.8-, 2.5- and 2.2- fold, and Bad, Bax, Cytochrome c and SMAC/Diablo protein levels were induced by 4.2-, 3.0-, 3.6-, and 4.0- fold in MCF-7 cells by PS extract treatment. This report describes the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of the extract of endemic Pinus species on MCF-7 cells for the first time. Although the isolation and structure elucidation of the active compounds is needed to be performed in the further studies, it is likely that PS extract may be a potential candidate for the development of novel therapeutic anticancer compounds for breast cancer.