title: Ajwa Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Extract Inhibits Human Breast Adenocarcinoma (MCF7) Cells In Vitro by Inducing Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phoenix dactylifera L (Date palm) is a native plant of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and other Middle Eastern countries. Ajwa date has been described in the traditional and alternative medicine to provide several health benefits including anticholesteremic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and anticancer effects, but most remains to be scientifically validated. Herein, we evaluated the anticancer effects of the Methanolic Extract of Ajwa Date (MEAD) on human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) cells in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  MCF7 cells were treated with various concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg/ml) of MEAD for 24, 48 and 72 h and changes in cell morphology, cell cycle, apoptosis related protein and gene expression were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Phase contrast microscopy showed various morphological changes such as cell shrinkage, vacuolation, blebbing and fragmentation. MTT (2-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay demonstrated statistically significant dose-dependent inhibitions of MCF7 cell proliferation from 35% to 95%. Annexin V-FITC and TUNEL assays showed positive staining for apoptosis of MCF7 cells treated with MEAD (15 mg and 25 mg for 48 h). Flow cytometric analyses of MCF7 cells with MEAD (15 mg/ml and 20 mg/ml) for 24 h demonstrated cell cycle arrest at 'S' phase; increased p53, Bax protein expression; caspase 3activation and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed up-regulation of p53, Bax, Fas, and FasL and down-regulation of Bcl-2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MEAD inhibited MCF7 cells in vitro by the inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Our results indicate the anticancer effects of Ajwa dates, which therefore may be used as an adjunct therapy with conventional chemotherapeutics to achieve a synergistic effect against breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.|Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.|Center of Innovation in Personalized Medicine, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fazal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Peter Natesan
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Pushparaj
authors.affiliation: Center of Innovation in Personalized Medicine, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abuzenadah
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.|Biochemistry Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Taha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumosani
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.|Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut (AUB), Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbour
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: AlQahtani
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Kalamegam
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gauthaman
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D000432:Methanol; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D065749:Phoeniceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016196:S Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053148:Caspase 3; D000432:Methanol