Anti-Cancer and Immunomodulatory Activities of Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl. (APIACEAE) Extracts: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study.

Prangos ferulacea is a widely recognized and valuable medicinal herb known for its diverse biological characteristics. Our study was conducted to evaluate the anticancer and immunomodulatory effects of P. ferulacea. Ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous extracts were prepared from P. ferulacea, and the MTT assay was used to measure antiproliferation activity against 5 cancer cell lines (MDA-MB231, T47-D, HeLa, EMT6/P, and Vero). The 3 extracts underwent a qualitative LC/MS spectrometry analysis to determine each extract's composition. The MTT test was used to measure the proliferation of lymphocytes. Extracts were evaluated for their effects on macrophages phagocytic activity and pinocytosis function using the nitro blue tetrazolium assay and the neutral red method, respectively. The impact of ethyl acetate and methanol was assessed in mice inoculated with EMT6/P using the in vivo model, and the tumor size was measured. Results showed that ethyl acetate and methanol extracts had the highest activity against T47-D with IC50 values of 0.019 mg/ml. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited moderate effectiveness against the following cell lines: MDA-MB-231 and EMT6/P with IC50 values of 0.104 and 0.255 mg/ml, respectively. Meanwhile, methanol extract showed activity against MDA-MB231 and EMT6/P cell lines and had IC50 values of 0.214 and 0.31 mg/ml, respectively. Regarding immunomodulatory assays, the methanol extract, followed by the ethyl acetate extract, significantly increases lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage phagocytosis activity. Aqueous extracts increase the activity of pinocytosis. Both ethyl acetate and methanol extracts reduced tumor size by 61.46% and 34.47%, respectively. They also decreased the average weight of the tumor cells in the in vivo model. The results of P. ferulacea have valuable activity against cancer cells and stimulate the immune system. However, further molecular investigations are required to understand the mechanism of action of P. ferulacea activity.