Euphorbia granulata Forssk: Evaluation of antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis induction in breast cancer cells

Abstract

• Euphorbia granulata extract (EGE) is rich in phenolic compounds. • EGE can inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation via apoptosis. • EGE can reduce cell viability of breast cancer cells. • EGE can be a potent anticancer agent. Euphorbia is one of the six largest genera of flowering plants. The Euphorbia species are widely distributed throughout the world. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the phenolic compounds profile, antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis induction of Euphorbia. granulata extract (EGE) on breast cancer cells. In this experiment, we used HPLC analysis to attain the phenolic and flavonoid compound profile. The total phenolic and flavonoid content (TPC and TFC) were evaluated by classic procedures. Besides, the antioxidant activity of the extract was assessed. MTT assay was performed and caspase-3 activity was also measured to detect the effect of E. granulata on the MCF-7 cell line. Rutin with the amount of 6.40 µg/mg extract was identified as the main component in EGE. The extract was rich in TPC and showed high free radical scavenging activity (IC 50 = 22.96 ± 0.84 μg/mL). Based on MTT assay results, EGE exhibited anti-proliferative activity on MCF-7 cells with the IC 50 value of 25.17 ± 0.95 µg/mL. EGE also affected MCF-7 cells by reducing cell viability via the induction of apoptosis. So, the treatment of the cells by EGE exhibited an increase in caspase-3 activity. These findings indicated that EGE has a rich source of phenolic compounds and the extract can be a potent anticancer agent in inducing apoptosis in breast cancer cells and probably other cancer cells.