Elif Ece AKGÜN, Büşra Gülbenli TÜRKOĞLU, Senem AKKOÇ
Eastern Journal of Medicine (EJM) - 2026;31(4):809-814
Breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy among women globally and continues to be a primary contributor to cancer-associated mortality due to its high metastatic potential and resistance to conventional therapies. In light of this clinical significance, the present study aimed to elucidate the cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic properties of Panax ginseng extract on the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Cells were exposed to a range of ginseng concentrations, and cytotoxic effects were quantified via the MTT assay. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50) of ginseng was established at 226.50 mug/mL. Immunocytochemical evaluations at the IC 50 concentration were conducted to assess apoptotic induction and DNA damage through detection of caspase-3 and PARP-1 (poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1), expression. Treatment with ginseng elicited a concentration-dependent reduction in cellular viability. At the IC 50 dose, upregulation of caspase-3 and PARP-1 was noted, indicative of apoptotic pathway activation. Moreover, alterations in nuclear morphology and immunostaining patterns suggested the occurrence of DNA damage in ginseng-exposed cells. Collectively, these data demonstrate that ginseng mediates cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 cells via apoptosis induction and DNA damage, underscoring its therapeutic potential against triple-negative breast cancer.
