Mohammadreza DASTOURI, Fatima ELMUSA, Dilber ŞEN, Mustafa KELBEKLİ
Anatolian Current Medical Journal - 2026;8(6):1167-1175
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Prunus mahaleb (P. mahaleb) ethanolic extract (MEE) on the PC3 human prostate cancer cell line and the PNT1A cell line. Methods: MEE was prepared from P. mahaleb fruit using ethanol extraction followed by lyophilization. Cell viability was assessed using the WST-8 assay at concentrations of 2500, 3000, and 3500 mug/ml at 24, 48, and 72 hours, with cell-free blank correction applied at each concentration to account for the intrinsic absorbance of the extract. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins-Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-9, and BAX-was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining. Morphological changes were monitored by differential interference contrast (DIC) optical microscopy at 48 hours. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey HSD post-hoc test (p<0.05). Results: MEE significantly reduced PC3 cell viability at all tested concentrations and time points (one-way ANOVA, F (3.20)=43.25-45.41, p<0.0001 at each time point), while PNT1A cell viability remained unaffected across all concentrations and time points (F (3.20)=0.22-2.49, p>0.05). Immunofluorescence analysis revealed increased immunoreactivity for Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-9, and BAX in MEE-treated PC3 cells, with no appreciable signal observed in PNT1A cells under the same conditions, a pattern consistent with concurrent engagement of both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways in the cancer cell line. Conclusion: MEE exhibits selective cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic-associated activity against PC3 prostate cancer cells without affecting PNT1A cells under the tested conditions, supporting P. mahaleb as a promising candidate for further investigation as a natural anticancer agent in prostate cancer therapy.
