BACKGROUND: Nigella Sativa (NS) is an herb from the Ranunculaceae family that exhibits numerous medicinal properties and has been used as important constituent of many complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs). The ability of NS to kill @entity5 cells such as @entity5049 , HeLa and @entity157 cells is well established. However, our understanding of the mode of @entity204 caused by NS remains nebulous. The objective of this study was to gain further insight into the mode and mechanism of @entity204 caused by NS in @entity0 MCF-7 cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: @entity1 @entity0 cells (MCF-7) were treated with a methanolic extract of NS, and a dose- and time-dependent study was performed. The IC50 was calculated using a Cell Titer Blue   viability assay assay, and evidence for DNA fragmentation was obtained by fluorescence microscopy TUNEL assay. Gene expression was also profiled for a number of apoptosis-related genes ( @entity522 and @entity876 genes) through qPCR. RESULTS: The IC50 of MCF-7 cells was 62.8 L/mL. When MCF-7 cells were exposed to 50  L/mL and 100  L/mL NS for 24h, 48h and 72h, microscopic examination (TUNEL assay) revealed a dose- and time-dependent increase in apoptosis. Similarly, the expression of the @entity522 and @entity876 genes increased significantly according to the dose and time. CONCLUSIONS: NS induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells through both the @entity876 and caspase pathways. NS could potentially represent an alternative source of medicine for @entity0 therapy.

Roles of XXXX and Caspases in Induction of Apoptosis in MCF- 7 Breast Cancer Cells Treated with a Methanolic Extract of Nigella Sativa Seeds.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Human'] @entity522 :: ('836', 'Gene') :: ['Caspase-3, -8, -9'] @entity0 :: ('MESH:D001943', 'Disease') :: ['breast cancer'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['cancer'] @entity876 :: ('7157', 'Gene') :: ['p53'] @entity157 :: ('MESH:D006528', 'Disease') :: ['hepatoma'] @entity204 :: ('MESH:D003643', 'Disease') :: ['death'] @entity5049 :: ('57332', 'Gene') :: ['PC3']
@entity876 :: (7157,Gene) :: ['p53']
