Effects of Crataegus azarolus Extracts on Proliferation, Migration, and Apoptosis in AGS Gastric Cancer Cell Line

Gastric cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer morbidity and death worldwide. Despite advances, current treatments remain costly, have low success rates, and cause adverse effects, prompting research into plant-based alternatives as a potential solution. Crataegus azarolus contains compounds with health potential and minimal side effects. This study investigates the potential antiproliferative, migratory, and apoptotic effects of C. azarolus methanol and acetone extracts of fruits and leaves on human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines (AGS) and human fibroblast cell lines. AGS cells were treated with different concentrations of methanol and acetone fruits (MF and AF) extracts (10, 50, 100, 250, and 500 μg/mL). The results demonstrates that MF extract showes significantly higher anti-proliferative activity at 500μg/mL concentrations, when estimated by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay (p < 0.001). The calculated half-maximal inhibitory concentration value is 300μg/mL. Furthermore, MF extract showes a significant (p ˂ 0.01) cellular migration inhibitory effect. The clonogenicity of AGS is considerably inhibited (p < 0.001), resulting in a decrease in holoclone production in AF and acetone leave (AL) extracts. Flow cytometry reveales induction of apoptosis, with highest 31.4% MF. Early growth response-1 expression increases dramatically (p < 0.001) in AF extract, while enhancer of zeste homolog-2 expression increases significantly (p< 0.001) when treated with MF and AL. Phosphatase and tensin homolog and N-myc downstream regulated gene-1 are both highly upregulated in MF and AF extracts, respectively. In conclusion, C. azarolus demonstrates anti-cancer effects on AGS cell line and may have potential as a source of anticancer compounds.