Anticancer activity of Artemisia biennis L. via induction of apoptosis and regulation of BAX, BCL-2, MMP1, and MMP9 in SW480 colorectal cancer cells

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and, despite recent advances in diagnosis and treatment, it remains associated with high mortality rates. Therefore, there is a growing need for novel therapeutic strategies. Medicinal plants, as natural sources of bioactive compounds, offer promising opportunities for anticancer drug development. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Artemisia biennis L. on the SW480 colorectal cancer cell line and its impact on the expression of apoptosis-related genes ( BAX and BCL-2 ) and metastasis-related genes ( MMP1 and MMP9 ). Aqueous and butanolic (polar) as well as hexane and ethyl acetate (non-polar) fractions of A. biennis were evaluated at different concentrations and exposure times for their effects on cell growth and viability. The results demonstrated that polar fractions, particularly the aqueous one, significantly reduced SW480 cell viability, with stronger effects observed at longer treatment durations. IC₅₀ values of the polar fractions were lower than those of non-polar fractions. Moreover, BAX gene expression was significantly altered in the hexane fraction, while BCL-2 expression showed notable changes in the aqueous fraction. A decrease in MMP1 and MMP9 expression was also observed in the butanol and ethyl acetate fractions, suggesting reduced migratory potential . In line with these findings, the scratch assay showed that ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions significantly inhibited SW480 cell migration, with the butanolic fraction exerting the strongest anti-migratory effect. Overall, these findings indicate that bioactive compounds from A. biennis can suppress colorectal cancer cell growth through apoptosis induction and consistent with inhibition of migration-related behavior, highlighting their potential for further investigation as anticancer agents.