Barrel Medic Bloom Extract: A Natural Aid against Breast Cancer

Breast cancer continues to be the foremost cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally. Medicago truncatula (Barrel medic) is acknowledged as a herbaceous plant possessing significant therapeutic and anticancer properties. The investigation examined the cytotoxic and inhibitory effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts prepared by heating extraction, tested on human breast cancer cells (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, T47D) and a normal breast epithelial line (MCF-10A), along with Jurkat lymphocytes, and evaluated in white mice, both in vitro and in vivo. Gas chromatography was used to find bioactive compounds in the extracts. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT and ELISA assays, while the in vivo effectiveness was assessed in white mice implanted with breast tumors. Findings indicated that the aqueous extracts comprised biologically active molecules such as resveratrol and glucosidase, and exerted significant inhibitory effects on breast cancer and normal cells in a dose-dependent fashion (p ≤ 0.01 and p ≤ 0.05), without causing notable inhibition in lymphocytes (NS). In vivo, the extracted substances facilitated tumour shrinkage and improved liver and kidney function in treated mice. The results suggest that Barrel medic concentrates may serve as an alternative anticancer agent for breast cancer treatment, exhibiting selective cytotoxicity alongside no effects on immune cells.