Apoptosis induction and cell cycle alterations by extract of Pistacia atlantica (Baneh) in comparison to tamoxifen in human breast cancer T47D cells

Identification of new anticancer drugs with synthetic or plant origin is one of the main topics of research in cancer research laboratories through out the world. Iran with its unique plant coverage has many varieties yet to be fully studied for their potential anticancer effects. We studied the anticancer effects of Pistacia atlantica, an Iranian species of the family of Anacardiaceae with the local name of Baneh, in human breast cancer T47D cells. The T47D cells were seeded in 96-well culture plates in the presence and absence of different concentrations of fruit-skin extract of Baneh to determine anticancer effects using the MTT assay. The apoptosis induction and cell cycle changes in T47D cells following exposure to Baneh extract were also determined by flow cytometric analysis using AnnexinV-FITC/PI and DAPI reagents, respectively. Extract of Baneh (IC₅₀=1mg/ml) showed strong growth inhibitory effects on proliferation of T47D cells when compared to RPMI control and Tamoxifen. Baneh extract showed significant increase of cells (p=0.005) in G0/G1 and decrease of cells (p=0.005) in G2/M phases of cell cycle in comparison to RPMI. Both Baneh extract (p=0.04) and Tamoxifen (p=0.03) showed significant apoptosis (PI-/AnnxV+) in T47D cells in comparison to RPMI. In addition, Tamoxifen (p=0.000) showed significant cell necrosis (PI+/AnnxV-) in comparison to Baneh extract and RPMI. Our findings are the first data on potential anticancer effects of Baneh extract and its possible molecular mechanisms of action on human breast cancer T47D cell proliferation.