Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effect of Iris taochia Plant Extracts on Human Breast Cancer (MCF-7) Cells

Introduction: Iris taochia is an endemic plant in Turkey. Iris species has many biological effects such as antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer properties. Apoptosis is a programmed cell death and this mechanism regulates the death of cancer cells. Purpose: The aim of our work is to investigate how the Iris taochia extracts affect the apoptotic activity in the MCF7 cells. Methods: Cytotoxic dose and cell viability is determined by the MTT assay. Bad, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl- W, Bid, Bim, Caspase 3, Caspase 8, CD40, CD40L, cIAP-2, CytoC, DR6, Fas, FasL, HSP27, HSP60, HSP70, HTRA, IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-4, IGFBP-5, IGFBP-6, IGF-1sR, Livin, p21, p27, p53, SMAC, Survivin, sTNF-R1, sTNF-R2, TNF-α, TNF-β, TRAILR-1, TRAILR-2, TRAILR-3, TRAILR-4 and XIAP proteins were measured by the membrane array kit. Results: Iris taochia extracts exhibited significant cytotoxic effects on MCF7 cells and IC50 values ranging from 1.56 to 100 μg/mL. Our results indicate that MeOH extract of Iris taochia in MCF7 cells may be a regulator of cell death proteins, cell cycle and growth factors. DCM and EtOH extracts of Iris taochia have a limited effect on MCF7 cells, especially, HSPs, which play a significant role in chemoresistance, downregulating DCM and EtOH extracts of Iris taochia, whereas ligands and receptors of extrinsic apoptotic pathway are upregulated by these extracts. Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of Iris taochia extracts on MCF7 cells. Results also showed that Iris taochia reduced cell viability and induced apoptotic pathways as a potential regulator of cancer cell death.