Antitumor effects of Dadas Cress (Lepidium sativum var. sativum) on Ehrlich Ascites tumor cells: an in vitro and in vivo study

Abstract

<p>Garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) is widely used in nutrition and traditional medicine for its bioactive properties.</p><p>Studies show its seeds and leaves have anticancer, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic effects. This study investigated the antitumor</p><p>potential of an extract from the leaves of Dadaş cress (Lepidium sativum var. sativum), a Turkish variety, against</p><p>Ehrlich Ascites Tumor (EAT) cells. In the in vitro study, Dadaş cress extract (DCE) was tested at 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL</p><p>concentrations to evaluate its antitumor activity. Caspase-3/7 activity was measured by fluorometric assay, mitochondrial</p><p>membrane depolarization by JC-1 dye, and cell cycle by flow cytometry. The 50 μg/mL group had the highest apoptosis</p><p>rate at 48 h; 100 μg/mL caused the most mitochondrial depolarization at 24 h. After 72 h, the 5-FU group had the highest</p><p>G0/G1 phase cells, while the 25 μg/mL DCE group had the highest S phase cells. In vivo, groups were control, EAT</p><p>control, EAT + 5-FU, EAT + DCE (75–150 mg/kg), and DCE only (75–150 mg/kg). Liver and kidney tissues were examined</p><p>immunohistochemically, biochemically, and genotoxically. DCE significantly lowered TNF-α expression, oxidative</p><p>stress, and DNA damage in EAT mice. In the 150 mg/kg DCE group, renal tail DNA% dropped from 92.5 to 34.8%, liver</p><p>tail DNA% from 105.3 to 65.8%. TAS increased, TOS decreased vs. EAT control (p &lt; 0.05). These results suggest DCE</p><p>protects against EAT-induced damage dose-dependently and has no genotoxicity. The findings suggest that DCE may have</p><p>antitumor potential.</p><p>Keywords Antitumor effect · Apoptosis · EAT · Garden cress</p>