Work

Mentha canadensis leaves induce anti-tumor activity in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells through caspase-dependent apoptosis and Bcl-2 interaction

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Mentha canadensis (Bohe, Herba Menthae , Wild Mint) belongs to the Lamiaceae family and has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is an aromatic herb with diverse Chinese traditional therapeutic applications and is also used in food and beverage applications. Aims This study aimed to investigate the anticancer efficacy of the M. canadensis leaves methanolic extract (MCLME) using both in silico and in vivo assays. Methods Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to elucidate the binding affinity between MCLME-derived phytochemicals and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. In vivo antineoplastic efficacy was assessed by analyzing the inhibition of EAC cell growth, survival duration, and tumor burden in tumor-bearing mice, hematological parameters, apoptotic morphology, and expression of apoptosis-related genes. Results Several bioactive compounds were identified in MCLME, and among them, CID 60157539 and CID 576686 exhibited favorable binding affinities for Bcl-2, with binding energies of −8.8 kcal/mol and −8.2 kcal/mol, respectively. This interaction could provide a stable protein–ligand complex with enhanced structural compactness and energetically favorable conformations supports their potential role as a Bcl-2 inhibitor and suggests that MCLME could be a potential source of anticancer agents. MCLME significantly inhibited EAC cell growth by 62.95% (p<0.001) and 45.655% (p<0.001) at doses of 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The lifespan of EAC-bearing mice was increased by 50.66%, and the tumor burden was reduced by 35.24% compared with control mice (200mg/kg; p < 0.001). Furthermore, MCLME restored blood parameters, including RBCs, WBCs, platelets, and hemoglobin, in EAC-bearing animals, suggesting potential resistance to tumor burden. MCLME-treated EAC cells exhibited membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation (apoptotic features) under both light and fluorescence microscopy. DNA fragmentation also demonstrated that MCLME caused EAC cell death via apoptosis. Moreover, treatment induced upregulation of key pro-apoptotic genes ( p53, Bax, caspase-9, and caspase-3 ) and suppressed expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 in treated mice. Conclusions Together, the findings of the present study show that M. canadensis might be a potential resource for cancer chemotherapy, which exhibits potential anticancer activity accompanied by a caspase-dependent pathway, thus, supporting traditional uses of the plant in various illnesses, including cancers.

Source: Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine

DOI: 10.1016/j.prmcm.2026.100899