Prunus mahaleb ethanolic extract induces caspase-associated apoptotic changes in PC3 prostate cancer cells without affecting PNT1A cells

Mohammadreza Dastouri; Fatima Elmusa; Dilber Şen; Mustafa Kelbekli

Prunus mahaleb ethanolic extract induces caspase-associated apoptotic changes in PC3 prostate cancer cells without affecting PNT1A cells

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Prunus mahaleb (P. mahaleb) ethanolic extract (MEE) on the PC3 human prostate cancer cell line and the PNT1A cell line. Methods: MEE was prepared from P. mahaleb fruit using ethanol extraction followed by lyophilization. Cell viability was assessed using the WST-8 assay at concentrations of 2500, 3000, and 3500 μg/ml at 24, 48, and 72 hours, with cell-free blank correction applied at each concentration to account for the intrinsic absorbance of the extract. The expression of apoptosis related proteins-Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-9, and BAX-was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining. Morphological changes were monitored by differential interference contrast (DIC) optical microscopy at 48 hours. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey HSD post-hoc test (p<0.05). Results: MEE significantly reduced PC3 cell viability at all tested concentrations and time points (one-way ANOVA, F (3.20)=43.25-45.41, p<0.0001 at each time point), while PNT1A cell viability remained unaffected across all concentrations and time points (F (3.20)=0.22-2.49, p>0.05). Immunofluorescence analysis revealed increased immunoreactivity for Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-9, and BAX in MEE-treated PC3 cells, with no appreciable signal observed in PNT1A cells under the same conditions, a pattern consistent with concurrent engagement of both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways in the cancer cell line. Conclusion: MEE exhibits selective cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic-associated activity against PC3 prostate cancer cells without affecting PNT1A cells under the tested conditions, supporting P. mahaleb as a promising candidate for further investigation as a natural anticancer agent in prostate cancer therapy.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

TÜBİTAK 2209-A University Students Research Projects Support Programme

Project Number

1919B012413592

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted exclusively using established commercial cell lines (PC3 and PNT1A) and did not involve human subjects or animal experiments. Therefore, ethics committee approval was not required.

Thanks

The authors thank Ankara Medipol University for providing the laboratory infrastructure necessary for this study.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cancer Therapy (Excl. Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mohammadreza Dastouri ^*
0000-0003-3882-0728
Türkiye

Fatima Elmusa
0000-0001-6645-5487
Türkiye

Dilber Şen
0009-0004-1361-1334
Türkiye

Mustafa Kelbekli
0009-0000-1524-7792
Türkiye

Publication Date

October 25, 2026

Submission Date

July 14, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 6

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA98CY69PT

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Dastouri, M., Elmusa, F., Şen, D., & Kelbekli, M. (2026). Prunus mahaleb ethanolic extract induces caspase-associated apoptotic changes in PC3 prostate cancer cells without affecting PNT1A cells. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 8(6), 1167-1175. https://izlik.org/JA98CY69PT

AMA

1.Dastouri M, Elmusa F, Şen D, Kelbekli M. Prunus mahaleb ethanolic extract induces caspase-associated apoptotic changes in PC3 prostate cancer cells without affecting PNT1A cells. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8(6):1167-1175. https://izlik.org/JA98CY69PT

Chicago

Dastouri, Mohammadreza, Fatima Elmusa, Dilber Şen, and Mustafa Kelbekli. 2026. “Prunus Mahaleb Ethanolic Extract Induces Caspase-Associated Apoptotic Changes in PC3 Prostate Cancer Cells Without Affecting PNT1A Cells”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 (6): 1167-75. https://izlik.org/JA98CY69PT.

EndNote

Dastouri M, Elmusa F, Şen D, Kelbekli M (October 1, 2026) Prunus mahaleb ethanolic extract induces caspase-associated apoptotic changes in PC3 prostate cancer cells without affecting PNT1A cells. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 6 1167–1175.

IEEE

[1]M. Dastouri, F. Elmusa, D. Şen, and M. Kelbekli, “Prunus mahaleb ethanolic extract induces caspase-associated apoptotic changes in PC3 prostate cancer cells without affecting PNT1A cells”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 1167–1175, Oct. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA98CY69PT

ISNAD

Dastouri, Mohammadreza - Elmusa, Fatima - Şen, Dilber - Kelbekli, Mustafa. “Prunus Mahaleb Ethanolic Extract Induces Caspase-Associated Apoptotic Changes in PC3 Prostate Cancer Cells Without Affecting PNT1A Cells”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8/6 (October 1, 2026): 1167-1175. https://izlik.org/JA98CY69PT.

JAMA

1.Dastouri M, Elmusa F, Şen D, Kelbekli M. Prunus mahaleb ethanolic extract induces caspase-associated apoptotic changes in PC3 prostate cancer cells without affecting PNT1A cells. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8:1167–1175.

MLA

Dastouri, Mohammadreza, et al. “Prunus Mahaleb Ethanolic Extract Induces Caspase-Associated Apoptotic Changes in PC3 Prostate Cancer Cells Without Affecting PNT1A Cells”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 8, no. 6, Oct. 2026, pp. 1167-75, https://izlik.org/JA98CY69PT.

Vancouver

1.Mohammadreza Dastouri, Fatima Elmusa, Dilber Şen, Mustafa Kelbekli. Prunus mahaleb ethanolic extract induces caspase-associated apoptotic changes in PC3 prostate cancer cells without affecting PNT1A cells. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 1;8(6):1167-75. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA98CY69PT