Anti-tumor Effect of the Ethanolic Extract of Vinca herbacea on Human Breast Cancer Cell Line: A Mechanism Study

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is extensively studied for its resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, finding efficient therapeutic agents is vital to increasing the survival rate of patients. Objective: Here, we conducted an in vitro study on the anti-tumor properties of Vinca herbacea extract on SKBR3 cells. Methods: Apoptotic and anti-invasive activity of V. herbacea extract was studied using Annexin FITC-V kit and Matrigel invasive assay, respectively. The expression of angiogenesis genes (VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGF-A), apoptotic-related genes (Bcl-2 and BAX), as well as metastatic genes (MMP2 and MMP9) were studied using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Vinca herbacea extract showed significant antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects on human breast cancer cells, compared to human embryonic kidney cells 293. Vinca herbacea extract had a great apoptosis-inducing potential in breast cancer cells by activating caspase-3 and increasing the BAX/Bcl-2 ratio. Vinca herbacea extract prevented cancer cell angiogenesis, marked by decreasing the expression level of angiogenesis-related genes, including VEGF, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2. In addition, V. herbacea extracts reduced cancer cell invasion and noticeably decreased the expression level of metastasis-associated genes, including MMP2 and MMP9. Conclusion: Vinca herbacea extracts exhibited vigorous cytotoxic effects on SKBR3 cells by the alteration of apoptosis, cell adhesion, invasion, and angiogenesis.