Evaluating the effects of Ziziphus Jujube extract on apoptosis and BAX gene expression in Sk-Br-3 breast cancer cell line

Breast cancer originates from abnormal growth of normal cells in the chest. Like any other types of cancers, breast cancer starts with a single cell. The main aim of this study was to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of Jujube extracts on growth and proliferation of Sk-Br-3 tumor cell line and assessment of BAX expression. After preparing Jujube hydro-alcoholic extract, Sk-Br-3 cell line was treated with Jujube extract in different groups for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Subsequently, it was measured by MTT assay and the rate of apoptosis was recorded. Finally, RNA was extracted from control and treated group by 2.1 (higher than 1.5 mg/ml), 1.5 (between 0.5-1.5 mg/ml) and 0.7 mg/ml (lower than 0.5 mg/ml), transformed into cDNA and the level of BAX gene expression was measured according to the GAPDH gene as a housekeeping gene by Real-Time PCR system. According to MTT results, 2.1, 1.5 and 0.7 mg/ml concentrations were selected as an IC50 for 24, 48 and 72 hours, which was time-dependent and has increased rate of apoptosis and BAX gene expression. In this study, Jujube hydro-alcoholic extract was used for the first time on Sk-Br-3 cell line ever. According to the results, Jujube hydro-alcoholic extract could be suggested as the Sk-Br-3 cell line treatment protocol.