CHEMISTRY AND BIODIVERSITY, vol.20, pp.202300460, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
Anatolia is rich in floristic diversity with a high rate of endemism. Eight plant species from northwestern Anatolia were evaluated for their antigrowth
properties in two malignant (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and a non-malignant (MCF-10A) breast cell line. The two most active extracts,
Achillea multifida (AME) and Astragalus sibthorpianus (ASE), induced apoptotic cell death in all cell lines. The major phenolic compounds in
AME were identified as chlorogenic acid, and catechins in ASE. ASE displayed selective cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells, with DNA
damage repair in non-malignant cells contributing to its selectivity. Conversely, AME induced DNA damage in a time-dependent manner and
displayed a dual dose-dependent biological activity, resulting in mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis at different doses. Most plant species exhibited
moderate to strong cytotoxicity, highlighting their medicinal and economic potential and the need for their protection.