Cytotoxic properties, glycolytic effects and high-resolution respirometry mitochondrial activities of Eriocephalus racemosus against MDA-MB 231 triplenegative breast cancer

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains difficult to treat due to resistance to conventional therapies and limited molecular targets. This study evaluated Eriocephalus racemosus as an alternative treatment by measuring cytotoxic properties and high-resolution respirometry mitochondrial activities against the MDA-MB 231 TNBC cell line. Hexane extracts and bioactive fractions were profiled by mass spectrometry, then tested for cytotoxicity and cell-death mode via flow cytometry and multiplex caspase assays (3, 8, 9), alongside glycolytic activity and mitochondrial function using Seahorse XFp and Oroboros O2K.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

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Abstract

Introduction

Triple-negative breast cancer challenges

Mitochondria and cancer metabolism

Adu-Amankwaah etal. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2024) 24:332 [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-024-04615-x](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-024-04615-x) BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies RESEARCH Open Access Cytotoxic properties, glycolytic effects and high-resolution respirometry mitochondrial activities of Eriocephalus racemosus against MDA-MB 231 triplenegative breast cancer Francis Adu-Amankwaah 1, Candice Februarie3, Kudakwashe Nyambo 1, Gerald Maarman3, NdivhuwoTshililo 1, Lawrence Mabasa2, Vuyo Mavumengwana 1,2 and Lucinda Baatjies 1,2* Abstract Introduction Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a significant global health crisis due to its resistance to conventional therapies and lack of specific molecular targets. This study explored the potential of Eriocephalus racemosus (E. racemosus) as an alternative treatment forTNBC. The cytotoxic properties and high-resolution respirometry mitochondrial activities of E. racemosus against the MDA-MB 231 TNBC cell line were evaluated. Methods Hexane solvent and bioactive fraction extractions of E. racemosus were performed, while mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling was used to identify the phytochemical constituents ofthe extracts. The extracts were further tested against MDA-MB 231 TNBC cells to determine their cytotoxicity. The mode of cell death was determined using flow cytometry. The activities of caspases 3, 8, and 9 were assessed using a multiplex activity assay kit. Glycolytic activity and High-resolution respirometry measurements of mitochondrial function in the MDA-MB 231 cell line were conducted using the Seahorse XFp and Oroboros O2K. Results Metabolite profiling of E. racemosus plant crude extracts identified the presence of coumarins, flavonoids, sesquiterpenoids, triterpenoids, and unknown compounds. The extracts demonstrated promising cytotoxic activities, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 12.84 µg/mL for the crude hexane extract and 15.49 µg/ mL for the bioactive fraction. Further, the crude hexane and bioactive fraction extracts induced apoptosis in the MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells, like the reference drug cisplatin (17 .44%, 17. 26% and 20. 25%, respectively) compared to untreated cells. Caspase 3 activities confirmed the induction of apoptosis in both cisplatin and the plant crude extracts, while caspase 8 and 9 activities confirmed the activation of both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways. Increased levels of glycolytic activity were observed in the hexane crude extract. High-resolution *Correspondence: Lucinda Baatjies[lbaatjies@sun.ac.za](lbaatjies@sun.ac.za) Full list of author information is available at the end of the article © The Author(s) 2024. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit [http://creativecommons.org/l](http://creativecommons.org/l)icenses/by/4.0/. Adu-Amankwaah et al. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2024) 24:332 Page 2 of 21 respiratory measurements showed elevated mitochondrial activities in all mitochondrial states except for complex-IV activity. Conclusion These findings support further exploration of E. racemosus as a potential therapeutic agent forTNBC, offering a promising avenue f

FAQs

What problem does this research address in TNBC treatment?

TNBC resists conventional therapies and lacks specific molecular targets, making it a major global health challenge and driving the need for alternative interventions.

How were the plant extracts of Eriocephalus racemosus prepared and analyzed?

Hexane solvent and bioactive fraction extractions were performed, and mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling was used to identify phytochemical constituents.

What methods were used to evaluate cell death and mitochondrial function?

Cell death mode was assessed using flow cytometry, with caspase 3, 8, and 9 measured via a multiplex activity assay. Glycolytic activity and mitochondrial function were evaluated using Seahorse XFp and Oroboros O2K high-resolution respirometry.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore