The study evaluated fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) extract for its ability to inhibit cathepsin G activity and suppress malignant characteristics in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The researchers screened 50 spice and herb extracts and found that fenugreek strongly inhibited cathepsin G, a neutrophil-derived serine protease associated with breast cancer progression. Fenugreek extract almost completely suppressed cathepsin G-induced MCF-7 cell aggregation and prevented the associated increase in PAFAH1B2, an oncogenic protein involved in malignant progression. The concentration producing an inhibitory effect on malignant progression had an IC₅₀ of 37.38 μg/mL, which was 5.87-fold lower than the concentration producing cytotoxic effects, suggesting that the observed activity was not simply due to nonspecific cell killing. It also has quercetin and trigonelline as important fenugreek constituents, both of which inhibited cathepsin G activity and reduced cell aggregation and PAFAH1B2 expression. Overall, fenugreek extract particularly its quercetin and trigonelline content, has promising anticancer potential through inhibition of cathepsin G and suppression of malignant phenotypes in MCF-7 cells.
Source : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405580825001086
