Echinacea Angustifolia DC Extract Induces Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest and Synergizes with Paclitaxel in the MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Daniel Abraham Espinosa-Paredes, Jorge Cornejo-Garrido, Mario Adán Moreno-Eutimio, Oswaldo Pablo Martínez-Rodríguez, María Eugenia Jaramillo-Flores, Cynthia Ordaz-Pichardo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Echinacea spp. displays different biological activities, such as antiviral, immunomodulatory, and anticancer activities. Currently, high sales of hydroalcoholic extracts of Echinacea have been reported; hence, the importance of studies on Echinacea. Aim: To establish the effects of Echinacea angustifolia DC extract obtained with ethyl acetate (Ea-AcOEt) in breast cancer cell lines. Methods: Cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest, and cell death were evaluated. Besides, the safety of the extract, as well as its effect in combination with paclitaxel were investigated. Results: The echinacoside and caffeic acid content in the Ea-AcOEt extract were quantified by HPLC, and its antioxidant activity was assessed. The Ea-AcOEt extract showed cytotoxic activity on breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells (IC50 28.18 ± 1.14 µg/ml) and MCF-7 cells (19.97 ± 2.31 µg/ml). No effect was observed in normal breast MCF-10 cells. The Ea-AcOEt extract induced cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase and caspase-mediated apoptosis. No genotoxicity was found in vitro or in vivo, and the extract showed no signs of toxicity or death at 2,000 mg/kg in rodents. In vitro, the combination of Ea-AcOEt extract and paclitaxel showed a synergistic effect on both cancer cell lines. Conclusion: The Ea-AcOEt extract is a potential candidate for breast cancer treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2287-2305
Number of pages19
JournalNutrition and Cancer
Volume73
Issue number11-12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

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