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Homeopathy 2022; 111(04): 288-300
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1743565
Original Research Article

Computational and In Vitro Approaches to Elucidate the Anti-cancer Effects of Arnica montana in Hormone-Dependent Breast Cancer

Nilanjana Basu
1   Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Priyanka Narad
2   Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Manni Luthra Guptasarma
3   Department of Immunopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
,
Chanderdeep Tandon
4   Amity University Mohali, Punjab, India
,
Bhudev Chandra Das
1   Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Simran Tandon 
1   Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
4   Amity University Mohali, Punjab, India
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Abstract

Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Use of homeopathic medicines for the treatment of cancers has increased in the last several years. Arnica montana is an anti-inflammatory homeopathic medicine used in traumatic conditions and because of this property we performed investigations for its potential as a chemotherapeutic agent against breast cancer.

Methods An ethanolic extract of Arnica montana (mother tincture, MT), prepared according to the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India, was characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS), followed by computational (in silico) analysis using molecular docking, to identify specific compounds that can bind and modulate the activity of key proteins involved in breast cancer survival and progression. To validate the in silico findings, in a controlled experiment breast cancer cells (MCF7) were treated in vitro with Arnica montana and the cytotoxic effects assessed by flowcytometry, fluorescence microscopy, scratch assay, clonogenic potential and gene expression analysis.

Results Phytochemical characterization of ethanolic extract of Arn MT by GC–MS allowed identification of several compounds. Caryophyllene oxide and 7-hydroxycadalene were selected for molecular docking studies, based on their potential drug-like properties. These compounds displayed selective binding affinity to some of the recognized target proteins of breast cancer, which included estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), progesterone receptor (PR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) and E-cadherin. In vitro studies revealed induction of apoptosis in MCF7 cells following treatment with Arn MT. Furthermore, treatment with Arn MT revealed its ability to inhibit migration and colony forming abilities of the cancer cells.

Conclusion Considering the apoptotic and anti-migratory effects of Arnica montana in breast cancer cells in vitro, there is a need for this medicine to be further validated in an in vivo model.

Keywords

breast cancer - homeopathy - Arnica montana - GC–MS - molecular docking - apoptosis - cell migration

Authors' Contributions

N.B. conceptualized the study, performed the investigation and the formal analysis, and was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. P.N. performed the investigation and formal analysis, and edited the manuscript. M.L.G., C.T., and B.C.D. performed formal analysis. S.T. conceptualized, designed and supervised the study, and edited the manuscript.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 02 September 2021

Accepted: 12 November 2021

Article published online:
05 July 2022

© 2022. Faculty of Homeopathy. This article is published by Thieme.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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