Effect of blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) on non-small cell lung cancer (A549) cells treated with benzo[a]pyrene

Although various environmental and genetic factors contribute to the development of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases, one of the most significant risk factors is exposure to cigarette smoke containing benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a major carcinogen. Plants rich in polyphenols and their derived extracts are considered potential alternatives for the treatment of inflammatory diseases due to their strong antioxidant properties and their ability to inhibit cytokine production. In this context, the fruit of Prunus spinosa, which has a high polyphenol content, has been widely used in traditional medicine owing to these biological effects. In the present study, different concentrations of Prunus spinosa extract were applied to BaP-treated A549 cell lines, followed by MTT assays. LD0 and LD10 doses were determined, and oxidative stress-related parameters including malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were analyzed in the treated cells to assess the extract's effects on oxidative stress. Due to the low levels of the applied doses, namely LD0 and LD10, no significant increase in oxidative stress was observed in the treatment groups, resulting in limited apoptosis. This study provides foundational data for future investigations aimed at increasing the dose of Prunus spinosa extract in BaP-exposed A549 lung adenocarcinoma cell lines and evaluating oxidative stress parameters under these conditions.