Taylor and Francis Paper

Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers and the fifth leading cause of cancer death globally. Polyherbal medicine formulation containing extracts from Indian jujube leaves (Ziziphus mauritiana), meniran leaves (Phyllanthus niruri), soursop (Annona muricata), turmeric rhizome (Curcuma longa), and black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa). This study investigated PM's anti-cancer effects on cancer cells, establishing its potential as an alternative treatment. The experiment used the T47D cell line cultured in RPMI media, with the TIG-1 normal cell line used as a reference. Cytotoxicity testing results showed an SI value >2, indicating that PM possesses a selective cytotoxic effect towards cancer cells. Apoptosis test using Annexin V-PI revealed that PM induced the early phase of cell death within the first 12 hours post-treatment, followed by the late phase of cell death in the subsequent 12 hours. The treated cancer cells also exhibited high BAX expression. Treatment was proven to enhance the activation of caspase-9 as the initiator of apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. The G1 phase arrest observed in the cell cycle analysis supports this pathway. The arrest is mediated by cytochrome C release, leading to caspase-9 activation. This study demonstrates that PM can be a strong candidate for alternative cancer treatment.