Exploring the apoptotic potential of Prunus spinosa Trigno extract in BRAF- mutated melanoma cells

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of human neoplasm due to its ability to invade and metastasize. The aim of this work is to examine the effect of our patented compound Prunus spinosa Trigno + Nutraceutical Activator Complex (PsT + NAC®) on primary (WM115) and metastatic (WM266-4), malignant (A375) human melanoma cell lines. Data evidence that PsT + NAC® induced on all melanoma cell lines, particularly on WM266-4 metastatic cells, a dose- and time-dependent reduction in cell viability. Persistent morphological changes indicative of cell death were observed, remaining irreversible even after treatment recovery. Cell cycle analysis revealed arrest in the G2/M phase for WM115 primary cells, and in the G1 phase, at lower concentration, for WM266-4 metastatic and A375 malignant cells. As the treatment concentration increased, all melanoma cell lines showed an increase in the sub-G1 population, which is associated with apoptosis. Western blotting analysis revealed that lower concentrations of PsT + NAC® elicited a protective autophagic response, while higher concentrations triggered caspase-dependent apoptosis. These results demonstrate the efficacy of PsT + NAC® in inhibiting the growth of BRAF-mutated melanoma cells.