Anti‑Proliferative and Apoptotic Effects of Rheum emodi on Human Breast Adenocarcinoma, MCF‑7 Cells, and Antimicrobial Effectiveness against Selected Bacterial Strains

Objective: In this study, we have investigated the anti‑cancerous potentials of RE ethanolic extract on human breast adenocarcinoma cells MCF‑7 and its antimicrobial effect against selected pathogenic bacterial strains. Materials and Methods: The apoptotic and anti‑proliferative potentials of RE on human breast adenocarcinoma cells MCF‑7 were observed through cell viability (3‑(4,5‑dimethylthiazol‑2‑yl)‑2,5‑diphenyltetrazolium bromide [MTT]), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, nuclear fragmentation, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) analysis. Antimicrobial activity of RE was screened through well‑diffusion assay. Results: The results show that RE significantly inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis in MCF‑7 cells of breast adenocarcinoma in a dose‑dependent manner. The MTT cellular viability assay and morphological study reveal that RE significantly induces morphological alterations in MCF‑7 cells in a dose‑dependent manner and thus inhibits cell proliferation. The cytotoxic effect of RE through the induction of apoptosis is evident by the disruption of MMP, nuclear fragmentation, and ROS accumulation. In addition, we have found that RE is potent enough to decrease the microbial activity of selective bacterial strains. Conclusion: The findings demonstrated that RE promotes significant apoptosis in breast adenocarcinoma MCF‑7 cells. Therefore, RE may be a potent candidate that aids for adjuvant cancer treatment though further studies are needed to elucidate the comprehensive mechanistic pathways.