Effects of artemisinin on proliferation, oxidative damage, and apoptosis in Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the anticancer effects of artemisinin (ART), an active ingredient, on Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells.Materials and Methods: The antiproliferative effect of ART was evaluated using the XTT assay. The effect of ART on oxidative damage was assessed using the 8-OHdG ELISA assay. Its effect on apoptosis was evaluated using caspase-3 ELISA, TUNEL, and RT-PCR analysis of changes in mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes.Results: Depending on time and dose, the viability of Ishikawa cells decreased. The IC50 dose of ART in Ishikawa cells was determined to be 57.59 µM after 72 hours. There were no statistically significant differences in 8-OHdG and caspase-3 levels between groups. The apoptosis rate was 1.7% in the control group and 9.02% in the ART-treated group. No statistically significant changes in the gene expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and apoptotic caspases were observed in the treatment group compared to the control group after 72 hours of exposure to 57.59 µM ART.Conclusion: ART shows promise as an anticancer agent. However, more comprehensive toxicological, pharmacokinetic, and in vitro and in vivo studies on its safety, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy are needed.