Caspase dependent apoptotic activity of Rubus fairholmianus Gard. on MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines

Developing plant derived chemopreventive agents that can divert the carcinogenic process and inhibit tumour progression may greatly reduce serious health consequences of cancer. This study investigated the antiproliferative and apoptosis inducing ability of Rubus fairholmianus root acetone (RFRA) on MCF-7 cells. RFRA treatments showed an increase in the in vivo antioxidant levels such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione (GSH) in mice. The extract showed significant antitumour activity with 76.57% increase in life span of ascites tumour bearing mice and 1.94 cm³ reductions in solid tumour volume at 250 mg/kg. The cytotoxicity spectrum analysis indicated that RFRA is a potent cytocidal agent with varying levels of toxicity (IC₅₀: 57.14–29.36 μg/ml). A significant dose dependent decrease in viability, proliferation and increase in cytotoxicity, caspase 3/7 activity were observed in MCF-7 cells. RFRA (20 μg/ml) induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, which was observed by morphology; DNA ladder formation and increased apoptotic population in flow cytometry analysis. These findings strongly suggest the use of R. fairholmianus as natural antioxidant with profound antitumour activities. It can act as a potent cytotoxic agent, which is able to induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells via caspase 3/7 upregulation.