Apoptosis-inducing potential of the hexane fraction of Cassia fistula L. against MCF-7 cells via apoptosis signaling pathways.
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- 2Toxicology and Forensic Sciences Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- 3Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- 4Institute of Genomic Medicine Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
- 5Special Infectious Agents Unit - BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- 6Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
This study analyzed bioactive-phytoconstituents of the n-hexane fraction of Cassia fistula L. fruit extract using HPLC-DAD and investigated its anticancer potential using several biochemical and molecular methods, such as cell viability, induction of apoptosis, aberrant cell cycle progression, changes in the expression of pro/anti-apoptotic genes, and others. HPLC analysis revealed the possible presence of quercetin and kaempferol alongside catechin, rutin, caffeic acid, orientin, and iso-orientin. We observed a dose-dependent decline in cell viability in MCF-7 cell line with IC₅₀ concentration of 99.7 μg/mL. The morphological alteration and wound healing assay indicated the presence of morphologically altered cells and non-significant closure of the wound in the IC50 treated cells. Moreover, flow cytometry investigations revealed rise in apoptotic cells (from 5% to 29%), increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (+17%), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss (from 23% to 13%), and cell cycle perturbation characterized by accumulation of cells in both G₀/G₁ (from 17.2% to 37.4%) and G2/M-phases (from 11.6% control 24%). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed the upregulation of the p53 (4-fold) and Bax (4.5-fold) genes, as well as downregulation of Bcl-2 (2.5-fold) gene. Our findings highlight the anticancer efficacy of the n-hexane fruit extract of C. fistula L. However, further validation is required in a suitable in-vivo/xenograft model so that this potent plant can be exploited clinically, especially against breast cancer.
Related
- A novel human Streptomyces strain redresses malignancy by inducing apoptosis and regaining gut homeostasis
- Notoginsenoside R1 modulates the ATF4-CHOP-Bcl2 signaling pathway to alleviate mitochondrial stress damage and apoptosis in asthmatic airway epithelial cells
- Diallyl trisulfide suppresses GP130-dependent signaling to induce mitotic arrest and death receptor‑dependent apoptosis in gastric cancer cells
- Apoptosis Modulation by LL-37: From Mitochondrial Cell Death to Prosurvival Signaling
- Contribution of the ROS/IRE1α Signaling Pathway to Arsenic Trioxide-Induced Apoptosis and Autophagy-Associated Responses in BEAS-2B Cells
BibTeX
@article{ahmad2026apoptosisinducing,
title = {{Apoptosis-inducing potential of the hexane fraction of Cassia fistula L. against MCF-7 cells via apoptosis signaling pathways.}},
author = {Iftikhar Ahmad and Ehab M M Ali and Torki A Zughaibi and Mohammad Hassan Alhashmi and Syed Kashif Zaidi and Sayed Sartaj Sohrab and Alaa Ms Khedr and Shams Tabrez},
journal = {Biochemistry and biophysics reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.bbrep.2026.102844},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42927353},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Apoptosis-inducing potential of the hexane fraction of Cassia fistula L. against MCF-7 cells via apoptosis signaling pathways.
AU - Iftikhar Ahmad
AU - Ehab M M Ali
AU - Torki A Zughaibi
AU - Mohammad Hassan Alhashmi
AU - Syed Kashif Zaidi
AU - Sayed Sartaj Sohrab
AU - Alaa Ms Khedr
AU - Shams Tabrez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Biochemistry and biophysics reports
DO - 10.1016/j.bbrep.2026.102844
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42927353
AB - This study analyzed bioactive-phytoconstituents of the n-hexane fraction of Cassia fistula L. fruit extract using HPLC-DAD and investigated its anticancer potential using several biochemical and molecular methods, such as cell viability, induction of apoptosis, aberrant cell cycle progression, changes in the expression of pro/anti-apoptotic genes, and others. HPLC analysis revealed the possible presence of quercetin and kaempferol alongside catechin, rutin, caffeic acid, orientin, and iso-orientin. We observed a dose-dependent decline in cell viability in MCF-7 cell line with IC₅₀ concentration of 99.7 μg/mL. The morphological alteration and wound healing assay indicated the presence of morphologically altered cells and non-significant closure of the wound in the IC50 treated cells. Moreover, flow cytometry investigations revealed rise in apoptotic cells (from 5% to 29%), increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (+17%), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss (from 23% to 13%), and cell cycle perturbation characterized by accumulation of cells in both G₀/G₁ (from 17.2% to 37.4%) and G2/M-phases (from 11.6% control 24%). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed the upregulation of the p53 (4-fold) and Bax (4.5-fold) genes, as well as downregulation of Bcl-2 (2.5-fold) gene. Our findings highlight the anticancer efficacy of the n-hexane fruit extract of C. fistula L. However, further validation is required in a suitable in-vivo/xenograft model so that this potent plant can be exploited clinically, especially against breast cancer.
SN - 2405-5808
ER -