Anticancer effects of Plantago major extract on colorectal and gastric cancer cell lines: an in vitro study and molecular docking analysis

Rabia Yilmaz Ozturk; Hilal Calik; Ayhan Demir; Rabia Cakir

doi:10.1515/jcim-2024-0340

Article

Anticancer effects of Plantago major extract on colorectal and gastric cancer cell lines: an in vitro study and molecular docking analysis

Rabia Yilmaz Ozturk , Hilal Calik , Ayhan Demir and Rabia Cakir

Published/Copyright: March 12, 2025

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From the journal Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Volume 22 Issue 2

Abstract

Objectives

Colorectal cancer and gastric cancer are one of the most prevalent types of cancer and are leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The chemotherapy is insufficient due to the poor targeting and affinity of drugs, low therapeutic effectiveness, and significant side effects. Consequently, developing effective therapeutic formulations is crucial for treating colorectal and gastric cancers. Plantago major (P. major) is a medicinal plant that has been investigated for medical research for cancer therapy owing to its rich phytochemical composition.

Methods

This study aims to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of P. major leaf extract on NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells, AGS gastric, and Caco-2 colorectal cancer cell lines for 24 h using XTT cell viability assay. The apoptotic activity of P. major was examined by detecting caspase 3/7 level in cells. The ROS levels in cells were measured using the DCFH-DA dye. Additionally, it assesses the interaction and binding affinities of the active compounds of P. major with the overexpressed EPCAM through molecular docking.

Results

The results demonstrate a dose-dependent anticancer effect of P. major on AGS and Caco-2 cell lines by reducing cell proliferation, increasing intracellular ROS accumulation and activating the caspase 3/7 apoptosis pathway. P. major exhibited no significant cytotoxic effects on non-cancerous NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells. Molecular docking analysis confirmed the high binding affinity of active compounds in P. major, such as apigenin, aucubin, baicalein, caffeic acid, and luteolin, towards the EpCAM protein overexpressed in gastric and colorectal cancer.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the P. major can be a promising effective therapeutic strategy for gastrointestinal cancers.

Keywords: P. Major ; medicinal plants; anticancer activity; caspase 3/7; in silico analysis

Corresponding author: Rabia Yilmaz Ozturk, Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Türkiye; and Health Institutes of Türkiye (TUSEB), Türkiye Biotechnology Institute, Istanbul, Türkiye, E-mail: rabiayilmaz15@gmail.com

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Immunat Herbal Medicine Inc. (Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey) for providing the P. major extract used as a therapeutic agent in the research.

Research ethics: Not applicable.
Informed consent: None applicable.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission. The first draft of the manuscript was written by R. Y. O. and H. C. Also, R. Y. O. and H. C performed formal analysis, investigation, and visualization. Software analysis and visualization were conducted by A. D. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. R. C. contributed to the study conception, design, resources and project administration.
Conflict of interests: The author states no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.

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Received: 2024-09-26

Accepted: 2024-12-31

Published Online: 2025-03-12

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2024-0340

Keywords for this article

P. Major; medicinal plants; anticancer activity; caspase 3/7; in silico analysis