Anticancer Activity of Bitter Melon-Derived Vesicles Extract against Breast Cancer

Due to their low immunogenicity, high biocompatibility and ready availability in large quantities, plant-derived vesicles extracts have attracted considerable interest as a novel nanomaterial in tumor therapy. Bitter melon, a medicinal and edible plant, has been reported to exhibit excellent antitumor effects. It is well-documented that breast cancer gravely endangers women's health, and more effective therapeutic agents must be urgently explored. Therefore, we investigated whether bitter melon-derived vesicles extract (BMVE) has antitumor activity against breast cancer. Ultracentrifugation was used to isolate BMVE with a typical cup-shaped structure and an average size of approximately 147 nm from bitter melon juice. The experimental outcomes indicate that 4T1 breast cancer cells could efficiently internalize BMVE, which shows apparent anti-proliferative and migration-inhibiting effects. In addition, BMVE also possesses apoptosis-inducing effects on breast cancer cells, which were achieved by stimulating the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disrupting mitochondrial function. Furthermore, BMVE could dramatically inhibit tumor growth in vivo with negligible adverse effects. In conclusion, BMVE exhibits a pronounced antitumor effect on 4T1 breast cancer cells, which has great potential for use in tumor therapy.

Automated summary

Due to its low immunogenicity, high biocompatibility, and ready availability in large quantities, plant-derived vesicles extracts have gained considerable attention as a novel nanomaterial in tumor therapy. This study found that bitter melon-derived vesicles extract (BMVE) exhibits significant inhibitory effects on breast cancer, including anti-proliferative, migration-inhibiting, and apoptosis-inducing effects. Furthermore, BMVE can effectively inhibit tumor growth in vivo with negligible adverse effects. These findings highlight the potential of BMVE as a promising therapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment.