Synergistic Inhibition of Breast Carcinoma Cell Proliferation by Quercetin and Sulforaphane via Activation of the ERK/MAPK Pathway

In the contemporary era of drug discovery, herbal treatments have demonstrated an unparalleled ability to produce anticancer drugs. An important part of the therapy of cancer is the use of plants and their by-products via analogues, which alter the tumor microenvironment and several signaling pathways. The objective of the current investigation was to conclude the rate at which the herbal medications quercetin (QT) and sulforaphane (SFN) repressed the growth of breast carcinoma cells in MDA-MB-231 by preventing the ERK/MAPK signaling systems. The cells were assessed for several studies after being subjected to different concentrations (0-70 µM) of QT and SFN (QT + SFN) for duration of 24 h. We investigated the combination that QT + SFN generated cytotoxicity using the MTT assay. The DCFH-DA staining technique was utilized to assess ROS. The protein spectra of survival of cells, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis were evaluated employing flow cytometry and western blotting. The consequences illustrated that the relative cytotoxicity of QT and SFN was roughly 28.74 μM and 39.87 μM for MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. Following the 24-h incubation period, MDA-MB-231 cells exhibit considerable cytotoxicity when QT and SFN are combined, with IC₅₀ values of 19.48 μM. Moreover, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with QT and SFN concurrently showed substantial production of ROS and increased apoptotic signals. Consequently, because QT + SFN inhibit the production of ERK/MAPK/JNK/p38-based control of proliferation and cell cycle-regulating proteins, it has been considered a chemotherapeutic medication. To determine the extent to which the co-treatment induces apoptosis, more in vivo study will be required before they can be used commercially.