Comparison of Apoptotic Effects of S14161 and Citrus limon Leaves Hydroalcoholic Extracts on Breast Cancer Cells MCF-7

Breast cancer is a multifactorial disease in which genetics, hormonal factors and the interaction between individuals and the environment contribute to it. In the present study, we try to compare the effect of lime leaves extract and S14161 small molecule on apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Apoptotic effects of S14161 and hydroalcoholic extract of Lime leaves on MCF-7 cells were investigated using MTT method, the morphology of cells with acridine orange staining using the fluorescent microscope. The results showed that the S14161 and Lime leave extract decreases the survival rate and proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a time and dose-dependent manner. Based on the results of the MTT test, 10 μM concentration of S14161 and 6 mM concentration of Lime extract was determined within 24 hours as IC50 concentration of MCF-7 cells. Comparison of Lime extract and S14161 showed that the amount of small molecule cytotoxicity was higher than that of Lime leaves extract and there was a significant difference between survival percentage of cancer cells treated with S14161 and cells treated with lime leaves extracts on day 1, 3 and 5 (P <0.05). Also, there were significant morphological changes such as shrinkage and increasing size of vacuoles, cytoplasmic loss, nucleus pigmentation and fragmentation of chromatin in treated cancer cells. The specific effect of this inhibitor on cell growth, as well as the lack of observation of toxic effects to high concentrations, has been described as a major strategy for treating breast cancers.