The Effect of Bitter Melon Extract (Momordica Charantia) On CASPASE-9 and Bcl-2 Proteins Expression

Abstract

Breast cancer has a significant morbidity and death rate worldwide, thus various therapeutic strategies, including the phytopharmaca approach, must be researched further. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) extract is predicted to have anticancer properties due to its influence on Caspase-9 and BcL2 proteins, which will be shown in this in vitro investigation utilizing MCF-7 cell culture. This study was an in vitro laboratory experimental study with a post-test-only control group design. The doses of Momordica charantia extract used were 125 μg/ml, 500 μg/ml, and 1,000 μg/ml. Caspase-9 and BcL2 protein expression in MCF-7cell culture was measured by immunocytochemistry method, Shapiro Wilk, Levene Test, One Way Anova, and Post Hoc LSD. Administration of Momordica charantia extract at a dose of 500 μg/ml and 1,000 μg/ml significantly increased the average expression of Caspase-9 protein (p = 0.044 and p = 0.004 respectively), but not at a dose of 125 μg/mL (p = 0.125). Administration of bitter melon extract at doses of 125 μg/ml, 500 μg/ml, and 1,000 μg/ml significantly reduced the average BcL2 protein expression (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.001 respectively). Momordica charantia extract has the potential to be employed as an anti-breast cancer agent due to its ability to increase the average expression of Caspase-9 protein while reducing the average expression of BcL2 protein.