Functional profiling of Achillea fragrantissima (a perennial edible herb) against human cancer cells and potential nutraceutical impact in neutralizing cell proliferation by interfering with VEGF and NF-κB signaling pathways

Abstract

Chemoprevention with alternative approaches is emerging as a significant component of therapeutic regimen for the management of various diseases in human population including cancer. The concept of personalized nutrition is attracting considerable interest as an effective and affordable strategy in the prevention of chronic diseases. It is acknowledged that diet-derived agents or non-dietary natural products are not only the source of traditional medicines but also the lead compounds for currently used pharmaceuticals with excellent efficacy against a number of human diseases. Achillea species (Asteraceae) are considered as functional foods, which are important constituents of traditional medicine and commonly consumed as herbal tea or food additives worldwide. The studies presented herein demonstrate the effects of the hydro-methanolic extract of A. fragrantissima against a panel of cancer cells that include breast cancer (MDA-MB-231,MCF-7,SKBR3), pancreatic cancer (BxPC-3, MiaPaCa-2), prostate cancer (LNCaP,C4-2B,PC-3), and lung cancer (A549). The experimental results presented in the study show that the extract, which is rich in structurally diverse phytochemicals, effectively inhibits the cell growth and induces apoptotic cell death in human cancer cells. The treatment of the cancer cells with the extract resulted in a progressive decrease in cell migration and invasiveness, demonstrating an effective anti-metastatic activity. The mechanism by which the extract exerts its effects against cancer cells potentially engages NF-κB signaling and downregulation of its target cytokines such as VEGF. The study provides evidence that partially support the importance of functional foods and highlights their significance in disease prevention.

Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.) Sch.Bip instigates the ROS/FADD/c-PARP expression that triggers apoptosis in breast cancer cell (MCF-7)

“…Aerial parts of this achillea were used in folk medicine in Saudi Arabia, followed by the historical hero Achilles during the A.fragrantissima Trojan war period [11]. Various studies have been performed, and it illustrates that medicinal properties such as anti-neuroinflammatory [17], anti-angiogenesis [18], anti-metastasis [18], neuroprotection [19], myorelaxant [20], anti-inflammatory [21], anti-diabetic [22,23], anti-trypanosomal [24], anti-microbial [25,26], anti-oxidant [27], anti-proliferation [28], pro-apoptotic [28], cytotoxicity [9,27], and anti-cancer [29][30][31][32][33] effects through the difference solvent extract, prepared oil or phytochemical constituents isolation methods. Despite that, a deep mechanism needs to prove the effect of A.fragrantissima on apoptosis function.…”

Apoptotic Activity of Protopine against Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines: An in vitro Study

“…Several naturally occurring, plant-derived substances with exceptional apoptosis-based cancer prevention efficacy are among them. [31][32][33] This indicates that incorporating herbal substances to influence the apoptosis pathway can be an efficient strategy to develop anticancer treatments. 34 Consequently, the current study's goal is to provide a better understanding of cell death and the molecular mechanism by which Protopine initiates apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells.…”

Therapeutic potential of mangiferin in cancer: Unveiling regulatory pathways, mechanisms of action, and bioavailability enhancements – An updated review

“…When MGF was orally administered using 100 mg/kg BW/day, there was a significant reduction in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes was seen. MGF inhibited NF‐κBp65 activation, thus conquering inflammation and proliferation, and it boosted proapoptotic proteins (Kari et al., 2022 ; Ullah et al., 2022 ; Xin Wang et al., 2021 ).…”