Inhibitory effects of crocin on breast cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis: Mediation via downregulation of ERα and suppression of p38 MAPK/Akt signaling pathways

Objective: This study investigates the inhibitory effects of Crocin on estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) MCF-7 and estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, as well as its potential molecular mechanisms. Methods: The CCK-8 assay was used to assess the effect of Crocin on cell proliferation, and the optimal concentration and treatment time were selected. Cell apoptosis was measured by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. Western blot analysis was performed to examine the protein expression of ERα, p38 MAPK, and p-Akt, while qPCR was used to analyze the mRNA levels of ERα, p38 MAPK, and Akt. Results: Crocin inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner, with a stronger effect on MCF-7 cells compared to MDA-MB-231 cells (P<0.05). Western blot analysis revealed that Crocin significantly downregulated the expression of ERα, p-p38 MAPK, and p-Akt proteins (P<0.05), which was consistent with the qPCR results. Conclusion: Crocin may inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis by regulating the ERα-mediated estrogen signaling pathway and the p38 MAPK/Akt signaling axis, with a more pronounced effect on ER-positive cells. This study provides new theoretical insights for the application of Crocin in breast cancer treatment.