Abstract:
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for approximately 20% of all breast cancer
cases and is characterized by a lack of estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor
2 receptors. Current targeted medicines have been unsuccessful due to this absence of hormone
receptors. This study explored the efficacy of Tulbaghia violacea, a South African medicinal plant,
for the treatment of TNBC metastasis. Extracts from T. violacea leaves were prepared using water
and methanol. However, only the water-soluble extract showed anti-cancer activity and the effects
of this water-soluble extract on cell adhesion, invasion, and migration, and its antioxidant activity
were assessed using MCF-10A and MDA-MB-231 cells. The T. violacea extract that was soluble
in water effectively decreased the movement and penetration of MDA-MB-231 cells through the
basement membrane in scratch and invasion tests, while enhancing their attachment to a substance
resembling an extracellular matrix. The sample showed mild-to-low antioxidant activity in the
antioxidant assy. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed 61 chemical components in
the water-soluble extract, including DDMP, 1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione, vanillin, schisandrin,
taurolidine, and α-pinene, which are known to have anti-cancer properties. An in-depth examination
of the transcriptome showed alterations in genes linked to angiogenesis, metastasis, and proliferation
post-treatment, with reduced activity in growth receptor signaling, angiogenesis, and cancer-related
pathways, such as the Wnt, Notch, and PI3K pathways. These results indicate that T. violacea may
be a beneficial source of lead chemicals for the development of potential therapeutic medicines that
target TNBC metastasis. Additional studies are required to identify the precise bioactive chemical
components responsible for the observed anti-cancer effects.
