Albizia julibrissin leaf extract induces EGFR-targeted apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer, known for late-stage diagnosis, rapid progression, and poor prognosis, remains a critical global health issue as the seventh leading cause of cancer-related death. Current treatments encounter significant limitations due to drug resistance and toxicity, highlighting the urgent need for safer, effective therapies. This study explored the anti-cancer effects of Albizia julibrissin leaf extract (AJLE), prepared via hot water extraction, utilizing both in vitro and in vivo models. In vitro assays, including WST-1 cell viability, colony formation, flow cytometry-based cell cycle analysis, and western blotting for apoptosis markers, revealed AJLE significantly inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, suppressed colony formation, and induced cell cycle arrest at the sub-G1 phase. Apoptosis was confirmed by increased cleaved PARP and caspase-3 levels and characteristic nuclear changes via fluorescence microscopy. Mechanistically, AJLE inhibited MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways and notably increased EGFR expression, suggesting EGFR-mediated apoptosis as an important anti-cancer mechanism. In vivo xenograft mouse studies demonstrated a dose-dependent decrease in tumor growth without significant liver or kidney toxicity, as validated through histopathological and serum analyses. Elevated cleaved caspase-3 levels in tumors from AJLE-treated mice further supported apoptosis induction. These findings highlight AJLE’s potential as an effective natural anti-cancer agent against pancreatic cancer, presenting a targeted, less toxic alternative or complementary therapy to conventional treatments (RS-2024-00405028; RS-2023-00270936) [ 1 ] [ 2 ]. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany