The Root Extracts of Valeriana Officinalis L. may Control Programmed Cell Death Pathways in Breast Cancer Cell Line, MCF-7

Abstract

Natural product-derived phytochemicals are now accepted as promising agents in developing new strategies for cancer treatment and prevention. The root extracts of valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.), which is a supplement widely used for improving circadian rhythm-dependent sleep disorders and insomnia, might be a good candidate in that context. In the present study we hypothesized whether extract of valerian root induce programmed cell death machineries in a human breast cancer model, MCF-7 cells. To test the hypothesis, we treated MCF-7 cells with the extract at different concentrations for 24 h. Giemsa staining was used to evaluate the apoptotic morphology and apoptotic index, and monodancylcadaverine assay was used to determine vacuoles that are associated with autophagic flux. Our results indicated that extracts of the roots of valerian have apototic and autophagic effect on human breast cancer cell MCF-7 in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, the typical cobblestone morphology of the cells was disrupted after the extract treatments and the cells lost contact with each other. This morphological alteration was attributed to anoikis, is a programmed cell death type induced by loss of cell communication with extracellular matrix or neighboring cells. In conclusion, although this study has many methodological shortcomings, our findings suggest that Valeriana officinalis L. might be a potential anti-cancer agent for the treatment of breast cancer.