Phytochemicals from Ajwa dates pulp extract induce apoptosis in human triple-negative breast cancer by inhibiting AKT/mTOR pathway and modulating Bcl-2 family proteins

Ajwa dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.) have been described in traditional and alternative medicine to provide several health benefits, but their mechanism of apoptosis induction against human triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells remains to be investigated. In this study, we analyzed the phytoconstituents in ethanolic Ajwa Dates Pulp Extract (ADPE) by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and investigated anticancer effects against MDA-MB-231 cells. LC–MS analysis revealed that ADPE contained phytocomponents belonging to classes such as carbohydrates, phenolics, flavonoids and terpenoids. MTT assay demonstrated statistically significant dose- and time-dependent inhibition of MDA-MB-231 cells with IC50 values of 17.45 and 16.67 mg/mL at 24 and 48 h, respectively. Hoechst 33342 dye and DNA fragmentation data showed apoptotic cell death while AO/PI and Annexin V-FITC data revealed cells in late apoptosis at higher doses of ADPE. More importantly, ADPE prompted reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in ADPE treated MDA-MB-231 cells. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that ADPE induced cell arrest in S and G2/M checkpoints. ADPE upregulated the p53, Bax and cleaved caspase-3, thereby leading to the downregulation of Bcl-2 and AKT/mTOR pathway. ADPE did not show any significant toxicity on normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells which suggests its safe application to biological systems under study. Thus, ADPE has the potential to be used as an adjunct to the mainline of treatment against breast cancer.