Initial Evaluation of Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), Metformin and Taro Extract in Combination with Cisplatin for Enhanced Cytotoxicity in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Cell Lines

• Ada Morgan Godwin

  Department of Health and Human Studies – Pharmaceutical Sciences Program, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, USA

• Na’Turie Ward

  Department of Natural Sciences – Biology Graduate Program, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, USA

• Christopher Krauss

  Department of Natural Sciences – Biology Graduate Program, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, USA

• Hirendranath Banerjee

  Department of Natural Sciences – Biology Graduate Program, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, USA

• Gloria Payne

  Department of Natural Sciences – Biology Graduate Program, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, USA

• Dolapo Adedeji

  Department of Health and Human Studies – Pharmaceutical Sciences Program, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, USA

This study evaluated the antiproliferative effects of cisplatin, dihydroartemisinin, metformin and taro extract on MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines. Cisplatin at half maximal inhibitory concentration, IC₅₀ (20 µM) induced ~45% cell death (p < 0.001 vs control), while metformin (MET), dihydroartemisinin (DHA), and taro extract (TE) alone showed minimal cell death. Combination treatments (Cis + MET, Cis + DHA, and Cis + TE) significantly increased cytotoxicity to ~60% cell death on average (p < 0.01 vs cisplatin alone), with Cis + TE producing the greatest effect (~90%). The triple metabolic combination without cisplatin caused less than10% cell death (p < 0.001 vs cisplatin-containing groups), probably supporting a cisplatin-dependent cell death.

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