Pulsatilla vulgaris Inhibits Cancer Proliferation in Signaling Pathways of 12 Reporter Genes

This study aimed to examine if methanolic extracts of Pulsatilla vulgaris Mill. can inhibit HeLa cell proliferation through the modulation of cancer-related signaling pathways. The cytotoxicity and chemical composition of P. vulgaris leaves and root extracts were also determined. Research showed that root extract of P. vulgaris inhibited 12 signaling pathways in a cervical cancer cell line and the most potent activation inhibition was observed for MYC, Notch, Wnt, E2F, Ets, Stat3, Smad, Hdghog, AP-1, and NF-kappa B, at a concentration of 40 mu g/mL. The methanolic extracts of P. vulgaris enhanced apoptotic death and deregulated cellular proliferation, differentiation, and progression toward the neoplastic phenotype by altering key signaling molecules required for cell cycle progression. This is the first study to report the influence of P. vulgaris on cancer signaling pathways. Additionally, our detailed phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extracts of P. vulgaris gives a conclusion that compounds, which strongly suppressed the growth and proliferation of HeLa cancer cells were mainly triterpenoid saponins accompanied by phenolic acids.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of methanolic extracts from Pulsatilla vulgaris Mill. on HeLa cell proliferation by modulating cancer-related signaling pathways. The study also determined the cytotoxicity and chemical composition of P. vulgaris extracts from leaves and roots. The results showed that the root extract of P. vulgaris inhibited 12 signaling pathways in cervical cancer cells, with the most significant inhibition observed for MYC, Notch, Wnt, E2F, Ets, Stat3, Smad, Hdghog, AP-1, and NF-kappa B at a concentration of 40 μg/mL. The methanolic extracts of P. vulgaris induced apoptotic death and disrupted cellular proliferation, differentiation, and progression towards a neoplastic phenotype by altering key signaling molecules necessary for cell cycle progression. Additionally, phytochemical analysis revealed that compounds strongly suppressing the growth and proliferation of HeLa cancer cells in the methanolic extracts of P. vulgaris were mainly triterpenoid saponins accompanied by phenolic acids.