en 40453917 <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Background:</span></strong><em><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> Teucrium persicum</span></em><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> (<em>T. persicum</em>) is a well-known Iranian endemic plant that grows in the southern regions of Iran. It is used as a tea to treat abdominal pains, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes in traditional Iranian medicine. It has been previously found that the methanolic extract of <em>T. persicum </em>exerts significant cytotoxicity and inhibitory effects on different cancer cells. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ethyl acetate extract of <em>T. persicum </em>on MCF-7 cells. </span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Methods:</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> The experiments included MTT, DAPI staining, and investigating the expression of <em>BAX</em> and <em>BCL2</em> genes. The extract had a significant cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 50 <em>&micro;g/ml</em> for 48 <em>hr</em>. </span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Results:</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> DAPI staining assays showed that the extract induced morphological changes, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation. Additionally, the ethyl acetate extract induced the expression of <em>BAX</em> and down-regulated <em>BCL2</em> genes. </span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Conclusion:</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> These findings suggest that <em>T. persicum</em> has strong cytotoxic properties and warrants further investigation.</span></span></p> Apoptosis, Breast cancer, Cytotoxicity, Gene expression, Teucrium persicum 131 135 https://www.ajmb.org/En/Article.aspx?id=60611 https://www.ajmb.org/PDF/En/FullText/60611.pdf MehdiMoeilDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran92348MajidTafrihi92107EhsanNazifiDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran92350MaryamRadfarDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran92351