TY - JOUR T1 - Gum Arabic suppresses proliferation and induces mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells via the Bcl-2/Bax/Caspase-9/Caspase-3/7 signaling pathway AU - Evyapan, Gülşah AU - Özdem, Berna PY - 2025 DA - September Y2 - 2025 JF - Deneysel ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi JO - J. Exp. Clin. Med. PB - Ondokuz Mayıs University WT - DergiPark SN - 1309-4483 SP - 314 EP - 318 VL - 42 IS - 3 LA - en AB - Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, and despite advances in treatment modalities, there remains a critical need for more effective therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer properties of Gum Arabic, a natural bioactive compound, on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The impact of Gum Arabic on cellular viability was assessed using an MTS assay, while its effect on long-term proliferative potential was evaluated via a colony formation assay. To determine the mode of cell death, caspase-3/7 activity assays and Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining were employed. Additionally, Western blotting was conducted to analyze changes in the expression of key apoptotic proteins. The results revealed that treatment with Gum Arabic led to a dose-dependent reduction in both cell viability and colony formation ability. Moreover, apoptosis was significantly induced in the treated cells. At the molecular level, Gum Arabic administration resulted in a pronounced downregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2, along with upregulation of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2-associated X and caspase-9. These findings demonstrate that Gum Arabic not only suppresses proliferation but also promotes programmed cell death in breast cancer cells through modulation of intrinsic apoptotic pathways. 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