AN IN-VITRO STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF CANNABIS EXTRACT (CANNABRYL® FULL SPECTRUM, DEWAXED SERIES; PRODUCT CODE IPV4000) ON BREAST CANCER

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. The development of plant-derived therapeutic agents with selective cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic potential offers a promising approach in anticancer drug discovery. The present study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic and apoptotic potential of a Cannabis extract (Cannabryl® Full Spectrum, Dewaxed Series; Product Code IPV4000) against human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cells using multiple in vitro assays. The MTT assay assessed cytotoxicity, while apoptosis induction was confirmed by Acridine Orange/Propidium Iodide (AO/PI) dual staining, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) analysis using the JC-1 assay. The cannabis extract (IPV4000) exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity with an IC₅₀ value of approximately 40 µg/mL. AO/PI staining revealed characteristic apoptotic features, including chromatin condensation and membrane blebbing. Cannabis extract (IPV4000) treatment significantly increased intracellular ROS levels and induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, suggesting activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Collectively, these results indicate that cannabis extract (IPV4000) possesses potent anticancer activity against MCF-7 cells by triggering ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis, highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic candidate for breast cancer management.