Moringa oleifera methanolic leaves extract induces apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest via downregulation of Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in human prostate PC-3 cancer cells.

The inadequacy of effective treatment approaches for prostate cancer enlightens the crucial necessity for the search and emergence of novel and multitasking anticancer substances. Several experimental studies suggested the role of natural compounds in prostate cancer growth inhibition by Hedgehog signaling modulation. In the current study, we suggested the anticancer and apoptosis inducing effects of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) were linked to downregulation of Hedgehog pathway in PC-3 prostate cancer cells. We found that M. oleifera leaves methanolic extract exhibited significant anticancerous potential by inducing ROS-mediated apoptosis and activation of caspase-3 activity in prostate cancer. We also observed a dose-dependent G0/G1 cell cycle arrest as well as significant alteration in mRNA expression of apoptosis related and Hedgehog signaling pathway genes by M. oleifera extract treatment. Altogether, these experimental findings demonstrated that M. oleifera may exert antiproliferative apoptosis inducing effects by Hedgehog signaling pathway downregulation. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Moringa oleifera plant, a rich nutrional source, has extensive range of pharmacological applications including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activity. To best of our knowledge, this could be the first intensive report which presented the inhibitory potential of M. oleifera leaves extract against PC-3 prostate cancer cells via targeting key molecules of Hedgehog signaling. Decreased mRNA expression of GLI1 transcription factor and SMO protein of Hedgehog signaling pathway may be involved in antiproliferative effects of M. oleifera leaves extract against prostate cancer cells. Our study suggested that M. oleifera supplementation might be beneficial for the development and improvement of targeted therapeutic strategies in prostate cancer cells.