Curcumin Induces MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Apoptosis Through miR-15a Alteration

Background: In recent years, the application of herbal compounds in cancer treatment has shown significant progress. Curcumin (CUR), a natural polyphenol, demonstrates potent anti-cancer effects against various cancers, including breast cancer(BC). Curcumin targets a range of molecular pathways, contributing to the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis, and promoting apoptosis. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effect of CUR on BC cells, focusing on alterations in the expression levels of Mir-15aand Bcl-2 through the apoptotic pathway. Methods: The cytotoxicity of CUR was evaluated using an MTT assay. Changes in the expression of Mir-15a and Bcl-2 genes were analyzed by real-time PCR, and cell apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS. Results: The MTT assay results indicated that cell viability decreased as CUR concentration increased (5 - 25 mu M). Real-time PCRresults showed a significant decrease in the expression of Mir-15a and Bcl-2 (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry findings demonstrated that CUR treatment at the IC50 concentration for 48 hours induced apoptosis in 75.9% of MCF-7 cells. Conclusions: Our study provides a crucial foundation indicating that CUR induces apoptosis in MCF-7 cells by modulating the expression of Mir-15a