1174 – In vitro cytotoxicity and selectivity of arrabidaea chica, pereskia aculeata, gossypium barbadense and zingiber officinale against breast cancer cell lines

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, highlighting the
need for novel therapeutic agents with improved selectivity toward tumor cells. Natural products represent an important
source of bioactive compounds with potential antitumor activity. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic and selective effects of ethanolic extracts from medicinal plants against breast cancer cell lines.
Methods: An in vitro experimental study was conducted using human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 (luminal subtype)
and MDA-MB-231 (triple-negative subtype), along with non-tumoral cell lines for selectivity analysis. Ethanolic extracts
of Arrabidaea chica, Gossypium barbadense, Pereskia aculeata, and Zingiber officinale were tested at concentrations
ranging from 125 to 1,000 μg/mL. Cell viability was assessed by the MTT assay after 48h of treatment. IC₅₀ values were
calculated using nonlinear regression, and the Selectivity Index (SI) was determined as the ratio between non-tumoral
and tumor cell IC₅₀ values. Chemical characterization was performed by LC-HRMS/MS.
Results: Arrabidaea chica demonstrated the most promising antitumor profile, particularly in MCF-7 cells (IC₅₀=130 μg/
mL), with a high selectivity index (SI>7), indicating preferential cytotoxicity toward tumor cells. Gossypium barbadense
exhibited moderate cytotoxicity in both breast cancer cell lines, with limited selectivity. Pereskia aculeata failed to exhibit
significant cytotoxic activity in tumor cells, while Zingiber officinale presented low to moderate antiproliferative effects
with reduced selectivity. Differential sensitivity was observed between breast cancer subtypes, with MDA-MB-231 cells
generally less responsive. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids, including gallic acid,
caffeic acid, rutin, and quercetin.
Conclusion: The results highlight Arrabidaea chica as a promising source of bioactive compounds with selective cytotoxic
activity against breast cancer cells. These findings support further studies focusing on compound isolation and mechanistic investigation, aiming at the development of more effective and selective anticancer therapies.
Ethics: In vitro study.
Funding: CNPq PRPI Nº 02/2023.