Albiflorin Inhibits Cell Viability and Promotes Apoptosis in Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells via Regulating Bcl-2 Family Proteins

Background Breast cancer remains the most widely diagnosed cancer among women worldwide and a major cause of cancer-associated deaths, posing a substantial and escalating burden on public health systems worldwide. Purpose This study was intended to evaluate the anti-cancer effects of albiflorin against breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods The effect of albiflorin treatment at different dosages (1–50 µM) on the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells was evaluated using the MTT assay. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) level and apoptosis in the albiflorin-treated breast cancer cells were assessed using fluorescent staining assays. The apoptotic proteins Bax, Bid, and Bcl-2 levels in the albiflorin-treated breast cancer cells were studied using kits. Results The findings of the MTT test revealed that albiflorin treatment significantly diminished the MDA-MB-231 cell viability. The albiflorin treatment diminished the MMP levels and triggered apoptosis in the breast cancer cells, as shown by fluorescent staining studies. Additionally, the albiflorin-treated MDA-MB-231 cells showed augmented pro-apoptotic Bax and Bid protein levels and reduced anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 levels. Conclusion The present study suggests that albiflorin can inhibit viability and promote apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Thus, the current data suggest albiflorin as a promising candidate that can be utilized for breast cancer management in the future.