The Cellular Activities of the Subfraction of Red Onion Peel Crude Ethanolic Extract in MDA‑MB‑231 Cells

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the cellular activities of a subfraction (F1) of red onion peel crude ethanolic extract in MDA-MB-231. Materials and Methods: The cell cycle profile and apoptosis induction in F1-treated MDA-MB-231 were measured using flow cytometry, and the migratory activity was measured using wound healing assay, Boyden chamber motility assay, and Matrigel chamber invasion assay, whereas other related protein expressions were measured using Western blotting. Results: Our results demonstrated that the treatment of MDA-MB-231 with F1 reduced cell proliferation of the cells via inducing cell cycle arrest at S and G2 phases. F1 also possessed a better cell cycle arrest profile than camptothecin and executed better cell migratory effect in MDA-MB-231, which was likely via inhibition of the Akt signaling pathway in MDA-MB-231. Conclusion: F1 may have the potential to be developed as a nutraceutical agent that promotes anticancer effects or to be used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs to reduce the toxicity of drugs for MDA-MB-231-type breast cancer treatment.