Suppressive Potential of Ethanolic Extracts of Parkia speciosa Hassk. Empty Pods Against Colon Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion.

Parkia speciosa (P. speciosa), a plant utilized in traditional medicine, has shown promise in various therapeutic applications and contains multiple bioactive components (saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and terpenoids). These bioactive compounds have attracted increasing scientific interest due to their ability to modulate key cancer-associated pathways, including the inhibition of cell proliferation and migration and the suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation mechanisms. However, despite P. speciosa's historically long and wide-ranging usage, a comprehensive investigation of these properties has not been conducted for its pod. This study investigated the effects of P. speciosa empty pod extract (PSET) on human colorectal cancer cells. The extract demonstrated significant dose-dependent inhibition of colorectal cell migration, invasion, and colony formation while exhibiting no cytotoxicity toward normal colon epithelial cells. Western blot analysis confirmed reduced expression of Matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP2), Matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP9), and N-cadherin, indicating suppression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). These findings demonstrate that the PSET effectively inhibits metastasis in colorectal cancer cells through the EMT pathway, suggesting its potential as a dietary supplement or therapeutic agent for colorectal cancer treatment. Our research provides support for the development of natural, less toxic alternative cancer treatments. Therefore, PSET shows potential for development as a dietary supplement or therapeutic agent for the treatment of colon cancer.