Armeniacae Semen Regulates Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Progression in MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and T47D Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Background: amygdalin is a glycoside ingredient of rosacea plants that exerts an antitumor effect by blocking the growth of the tumor cells. therefore, we aimed to use the armeniacae semen, a member of the rosacea family, which contains a large amount of the amygdalin, to evaluate its antiproliferative effect on mcf-7, mda-mb-231, and t47d breast cancer cell lines. method: in this experimental study, we prepared the aqueous, ethyl acetate, and hydro-alcoholic extracts of the armeniacae semen. the mcf-7, mda-mb-231, and t47d cell lines were treated with different doses of the extracts for 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours; cell viability was investigated with mtt test and cell apoptosis was detected by use of double staining fluorescent. cell cycle progression was analyzed using a bd cycle test plus dna kit. we also assessed bcl2, bax, and caspase-3 mrna expression. results: the best ic50s belonged to hydro-alcoholic extract of the armeniacae semen in all three cell lines for the 48-hour treatment. we observed a significant increase in bax and caspase-3 mrna expression and a noticeable reduction in bcl2 mrna compared with the controls. application of amygdalin to mcf-7, mda-mb-231, and t47d cell lines increased the number of g0/g1 cells and reduced the number of cells at g2/m phasecompared to the controls. conclusion: this study showed that the hydro-alcoholic extract of prunus armeniaca had antitumor effects on breast cancer cell lines as it inhibited the cell cycle at g0/g1 phase and apoptosis induction in the mcf-7, mda-mb-231, and t47d cell lines.