{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]],"date-time":"2026-01-28T18:47:57Z","timestamp":1769626077684,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]],"date-time":"2026-01-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1769558400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Oncol."],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    The cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of\n                    <jats:italic>Beta Vulgaris<\/jats:italic>\n                    (red beetroot) extracts prepared with various solvents, including water, EtOH (ethanol), MeOH (methanol), Ace (acetone), EtOAc (ethyl acetate), and BuOH (butanol), on staurosporine (Sts) in MCF-7 cells have been examined in the present study. The MTT assay showed that cell survival was significantly decreased in the treatment groups, with the extracts of BuOH (30.11%) and Ace (41.17%) showing the highest suppression in comparison to the control. A decrease in viable cells was verified by Trypan blue analysis; the viability of BuOH and Ace extracts was 48.41% and 52.45%, respectively. While cytochrome c release reached 11.08 ng\/mL in BuOH-treated cells compared to 1.32 ng\/mL in the control, caspase-3\/7 activity increased dramatically, reaching 61.48% with BuOH and 53.72% with Ace. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hydrogen peroxide (H\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    O\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    ) levels were high (62.71% and 5.11 \u00b5M, respectively), resulting in a 48.92% reduction in adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Annexin V-FITC\/PI staining demonstrated that BuOH and Ace raised the values of early and late apoptosis by 26.19% and 29.47%, respectively. The BuOH extract had the strongest cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects across most assays, with the lowest survival rate (30.11%), high caspase-3\/7 (61.48%), high cytochrome c release (11.08 ng\/mL), strong ROS (62.71%), and H\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    O\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    production (5.11 \u00b5M), and the highest early and late apoptosis rates (26.19% and 29.47%). The findings demonstrate the potential of\n                    <jats:italic>Beta Vulgaris<\/jats:italic>\n                    chemical compounds as natural anticancer agents against breast cancer cells.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fonc.2026.1740274","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]],"date-time":"2026-01-28T05:22:18Z","timestamp":1769577738000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Investigation of beetroot (Beta Vulgaris) extracts compared to staurosporine in human breast cancer cells: cellular functions in-vitro study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Suzan A.","family":"Abushal","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Program of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Turabah University College, Taif University","place":["Taif, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rokayya","family":"Sami","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Sciences, Taif University","place":["Taif, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nashi K.","family":"Alqahtani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food and Nutrition Sciences, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal University","place":["Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Safa H.","family":"Qahl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Jeddah","place":["Jeddah, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ahlam A.","family":"Harasani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Jeddah","place":["Jeddah, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nouf A.","family":"Babteen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Jeddah","place":["Jeddah, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hend F.","family":"Alharbi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Food, Qassim University","place":["Buraydah, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Fahad Eid","family":"Albalawi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, Fahad Bin Sultan University","place":["Tabuk, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Fatimah","family":"Amer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University","place":["Abha, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hajer A.","family":"Alfarteesh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University","place":["Abha, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hayat A.","family":"Alghamdi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University Medical Clinics, Taif University","place":["Taif, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sara M.","family":"Almutairi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University Medical Clinics, Taif University","place":["Taif, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms24086889","article-title":"Young shoots of red beet and the root at full maturity inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines","volume":"24","author":"Piasna-S\u0142upecka","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules27061794","article-title":"Genesis and mechanism of some cancer types and an overview on the role of diet and nutrition in cancer prevention","volume":"27","author":"Kamal","year":"2022","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s44446-025-00008-4","article-title":"Innovative approaches for beetroot (Beta Vulgaris L.) aqueous extraction by cyclodextrins and its use to alleviate ethanol induced gastric ulcer in rats","volume":"33","author":"Al-Bishri","year":"2025","journal-title":"Saudi Pharm J"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"592","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sjbs.2020.10.048","article-title":"Biochemical profiling and elucidation of biological activities of Beta vulgaris L. leaves and roots extracts","volume":"28","author":"Rehman","year":"2020","journal-title":"Saudi J Biol Sci"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.23937\/2572-3278.1510043","article-title":"Red beetroot: Composition and health effects\u2014A review","volume":"6","author":"Ceclu","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Nutr Med Diet Care"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/antiox11050906","article-title":"Phytochemical characterization and utilization of dried red beetroot (Beta vulgaris) peel extract in maintaining the quality of nile tilapia fish fillet","volume":"11","author":"El-Beltagi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Antioxidants"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.15430\/JCP.2021.26.1.1","article-title":"Beetroot as a potential functional food for cancer chemoprevention, a narrative review","volume":"26","author":"Tan","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Cancer Prev"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/01635581.2020.1764068","article-title":"Evaluation of cytotoxic activity of betanin against U87MG human glioma cells and normal human lymphocytes and its anticancer potential through mitochondrial pathway","volume":"73","author":"Salimi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nutr Cancer"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1007\/s12010-021-03744-0","article-title":"Inhibition of proliferation in ovarian cancer cell line (PA-1) by the action of green compound \u201cBetanin\u201d","volume":"194","author":"R","year":"2022","journal-title":"Appl Biochem Biotechnol"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"246","DOI":"10.1186\/s12906-023-04077-7","article-title":"Anticancer properties of red beetroot hydro-alcoholic extract and its main constituent; betanin on colorectal cancer cell lines","volume":"23","author":"Saber","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Complementary Med Therapies"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2174\/187152011795347504","article-title":"Cytotoxic effect of the red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) extract compared to doxorubicin (Adriamycin) in the human prostate (PC-3) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines","volume":"11","author":"Kapadia G","year":"2011","journal-title":"Anti-Cancer Agents Medicinal Chemistry-Anti-Cancer Agents)"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/10408398.2018.1479830","article-title":"Betalains, the nature-inspired pigments, in health and diseases","volume":"59","author":"Rahimi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/nu7042801","article-title":"The Potential benefits of red beetroot supplementation in health and disease","volume":"7","author":"Clifford","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules28186589","article-title":"Effect of extraction methods on the antioxidant potential and cytotoxicity of the combined ethanolic extracts of Daucus carota L., Beta vulgaris L., Phyllanthus emblica L. and Lycopersicon esculentum against gastric adenocarcinoma cells","volume":"28","author":"Chauhan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1186\/s12906-025-04763-8","article-title":"Anti-proliferative and photodynamic activities of Senna didymobotrya (Fresen.) leaf alkaloid-rich extracts against breast cancer cells","volume":"25","author":"Olofinsan","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Complementary Med Therapies"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0309207","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0309207","article-title":"Characterization and evaluation of the cytotoxic, antioxidant, and anti-human lung cancer properties of copper nanoparticles green-synthesized by fennel extract following the PI3K\/AKT\/Mtor signaling pathway","volume":"20","author":"Huang","year":"2025","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1756-9966-29-148","article-title":"Antitumor activity of colloidal silver on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells","volume":"29","author":"Franco-Molina","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Exp Clin Cancer Res"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1186\/s12935-017-0400-3","article-title":"Synthetic curcumin derivative DK1 possessed G2\/M arrest and induced apoptosis through accumulation of intracellular ROS in MCF-7 breast cancer cells","volume":"17","author":"Ali","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cancer Cell Int"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/biology10090909","article-title":"LC-MS\/MS proteomic study of MCF-7 cell treated with dox and dox-loaded calcium carbonate nanoparticles revealed changes in proteins related to glycolysis, actin signalling, and energy metabolism","volume":"10","author":"Ahmed","year":"2021","journal-title":"Biology"},{"key":"B20","first-page":"79","article-title":"The apoptotic effects of sirtuin1 inhibitor on the MCF-7 and MRC-5 cell lines","volume":"8","author":"Dastjerdi","year":"2013","journal-title":"Res Pharm Sci"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.1186\/s13765-020-00545-7","article-title":"Protective effect of procyanidin B2 on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative damage in MCF-7 cells","volume":"63","author":"Tan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Appl Biol Chem"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1186\/s12967-024-06016-7","article-title":"Pharmacological vitamin c-induced high H2O2 generation mediates apoptotic cell death by caspase 3\/7 activation in breast cancer tumor spheroids","volume":"23","author":"Mussa","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Transl Med"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0002-9440(10)65082-1","article-title":"Cytochrome c-dependent activation of caspase-3 by tumor necrosis factor requires induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition","volume":"156","author":"Tafani","year":"2000","journal-title":"Am J Pathol"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.53350\/pjmhs22166491","article-title":"Inhibition of the growth of tumors induced ehrlich ascites by pre-treatment with pomegranate and beetroot juice in mice","volume":"16","author":"Hemdan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Pakistan J Med Health Sci"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3109\/13880201003792592","article-title":"Antitumor activity of Sansevieria roxburghiana rhizome against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice","volume":"48","author":"Haldar","year":"2010","journal-title":"Pharm Biol"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/jmf.2008.0280","article-title":"Drinking water with red beetroot food color antagonizes esophageal carcinogenesis in N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine-treated rats","volume":"13","author":"Lechner","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Medicinal Food"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0227950","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0227950","article-title":"Observation and quantification of the morphological effect of trypan blue rupturing dead or dying cells","volume":"15","author":"Chan","year":"2020","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e23540","DOI":"10.1002\/jbt.23540","article-title":"Beta vulgaris-derived exosome-like nanovesicles alleviate chronic doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting ferroptosis","volume":"38","author":"Cai","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Biochem Mol Toxicol"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules28145578","article-title":"Therapeutic role of alkaloids and alkaloid derivatives in cancer management","volume":"28","author":"Olofinsan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/ptr.5491","article-title":"Betanin-enriched red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) extract induces apoptosis and autophagic cell death in MCF-7 cells","volume":"29","author":"Nowacki","year":"2015","journal-title":"Phytotherapy Res"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/metabo13020277","article-title":"Antioxidant capacity, antitumor activity and metabolomic profile of a beetroot peel flour","volume":"13","author":"Coimbra","year":"2023","journal-title":"Metabolites"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/srep11544","article-title":"Synthesis, characterization and apoptotic activity of quinazolinone Schiff base derivatives toward MCF-7 cells via intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways","volume":"5","author":"Zahedifard","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules24081602","article-title":"Red beetroot and betalains as cancer chemopreventative agents","volume":"24","author":"Lechner","year":"2019","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1021\/jf000523q","article-title":"Phenolics and betacyanins in red beetroot (Beta v ulgaris) root: Distribution and effect of cold storage on the content of total phenolics and three individual compounds","volume":"48","author":"Kujala","year":"2000","journal-title":"J Agric Food Chem"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-1759(95)00072-I","article-title":"A novel assay for apoptosis flow cytometric detection of phosphatidylserine expression on early apoptotic cells using fluorescein labelled Annexin V","volume":"184","author":"Vermes","year":"1995","journal-title":"J Immunol Methods"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"252","DOI":"10.1186\/s12906-017-1761-9","article-title":"Melicope ptelefolia leaf extracts exhibit antioxidant activity and exert anti-proliferative effect with apoptosis induction on four different cancer cell lines","volume":"17","author":"Kabir","year":"2017","journal-title":"BMC Complement Altern Med"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e56643","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0056643","article-title":"Induction of apoptosis in human breast cancer cells via caspase pathway by vernodalin isolated from Centratherum anthelminticum (L","volume":"8","author":"Looi","year":"2013","journal-title":") seeds. PloS One"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1534735412458828","article-title":"Fermentation product of soybean, black bean, and green bean mixture induces apoptosis in a wide variety of cancer cells","volume":"12","author":"Chia","year":"2013","journal-title":"Integr Cancer Ther"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1155\/2014\/212096","article-title":"Synthesis, Characterization, and Anticancer Activity of New Quinazoline Derivatives against MCF-7 Cells","volume":"2014","author":"Faraj","year":"2014","journal-title":"Sci World J"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Oncology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fonc.2026.1740274\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]],"date-time":"2026-01-28T05:22:18Z","timestamp":1769577738000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fonc.2026.1740274\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]]},"references-count":39,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fonc.2026.1740274"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fonc.2026.1740274","relation":{},"ISSN":["2234-943X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2234-943X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]]},"article-number":"1740274"}}