Anticancer potential of ethanolic Bacopa monnieri L. extract: induction of intrinsic apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells.

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches. This study explores the anticancer potential of ethanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri (B. monnieri) against A549 lung cancer cells. Treatment with various concentrations of B. monnieri for 24 and 48 hours significantly reduced cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, as demonstrated by MTT assays. Mechanistically, B. monnieri treatment elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, depleted antioxidant defenses, disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and triggered cytochrome C release, culminating in apoptosis. Apoptotic cell death was confirmed using acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) dual staining. Additionally, Western blot and mRNA analysis showed downregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and upregulation of pro-apoptotic markers, including Bax, caspase-3, and PARP, indicating activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. These results suggest that B. monnieri exerts its anticancer effects by modulating critical molecular pathways involved in cell survival and apoptosis. This study underscores the potential of B. monnieri as a promising therapeutic agent for lung cancer treatment. Further research is warranted to investigate its pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy in preclinical models.