ENHANCED COMBINED EFFECTS OF GARCINIA COWA BARK EXTRACT AND DOXORUBICIN ON CELL CYCLE REGULATION AND P53 EXPRESSION IN T47D BREAST CANCER CELLS

IFORA IFORA; DACHRIYANUS HAMIDI; MERI SUSANTI; FATMA S. WAHYUNI

doi:10.22159/ijap.2025v17i6.54533

Authors

IFORA IFORA Faculty of Pharmacy, Andalas University, Padang, Indonesia 25163. Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Science Padang (STIFARM Padang), West Sumatera, Indonesia, 25147 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8790-9476
DACHRIYANUS HAMIDI Faculty of Pharmacy, Andalas University, Kampus Limau Manis, 25163 Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia
MERI SUSANTI Faculty of Pharmacy, Andalas University, Kampus Limau Manis, 25163 Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia
FATMA S. WAHYUNI Faculty of Pharmacy, Andalas University, Kampus Limau Manis, 25163 Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2026-4156

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2025v17i6.54533

Keywords:

Breast neoplasms, Cell cycle checkpoints, Flow cytometry, Garcinia cowa, Antineoplastic agents

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of ethanol extract of Garcinia cowa bark (EEGCB) and doxorubicin (Dox), both individually and in combination, on cell cycle regulation and protein expression in T47D breast cancer cells.

Methods: T47D cells were treated with EEGCB (130 µg/ml), Dox (0.026 µg/ml), and a combination of both, and flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle distribution and the expression of p53, Cyclin D, and Cyclin E.

Results: EEGCB induced apoptosis in T47D cells, increasing the subG1 population (p<0.0001), while Dox caused G2/M arrest (p<0.0001). Combined treatment enhanced both effects. EEGCB upregulated cyclin D/E, yet the combination reduced their expression, suggesting altered cell cycle regulation. Critically, EEGCB alone or with Dox significantly elevated p53 levels (44.6±0.592% and 37.6±1.662%, respectively; p<0.0001), implicating p53 in its anticancer activity. These results demonstrate EEGCB’s dual pro-apoptotic and cell cycle-disrupting effects, with potential chemosensitizing properties.

Conclusion: These findings highlight EEGCB as a potential adjunct to conventional chemotherapy, providing a scientific basis for further exploration in breast cancer therapy.

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