Combinatorial effects of curcumin, morin, and phyllanthin in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines
Sowmya Vuppaladadium, Joseph Xavier, Alanka Ketan Kumar, Sandhya AnnamaneniAbstract:
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the cytotoxic efficacy and interaction dynamics of curcumin, morin, and phyllanthin – individually and in dual (C + M) and triple (C + M + P) combinations – in estrogen receptor-positive (MCF-7) and triple-negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cell lines.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay after 24 h of treatment with varying concentrations of the phytochemicals. Half-maximal inhibitory concentrations were determined, and interaction effects were analyzed using the Combination Index (CI) model. Two-way ANOVA was used to quantify compound contributions and the statistical significance of interactions.
RESULTS:
The Curcumin + Morin (C + M) combination exhibited additive cytotoxic effects in both MDA-MB-231 (CI = 0.881) and MCF-7 (CI = 0.860) cells, showing significant dose-dependent inhibition (
CONCLUSIONS:
Combinations of curcumin, morin, and phyllanthin demonstrate subtype-dependent cytotoxic enhancement, with synergy evident in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer cells. These findings support the potential of phytochemical co-treatment as a complementary approach to improve therapeutic efficacy through multi-pathway modulation while minimizing toxicity.