Investigation of anticancer properties of Achillea alimeana in lung cancer cells

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide and is considered a major public health problem. Although significant progress has been made in diagnosis and treatment in recent years, the prognosis of lung cancer patients is often unsatisfactory. Today, cancer patients often prefer alternative and complementary treatments in addition to conventional treatments. Herbal preparations and phytochemicals constitute an important part of these treatment methods. Plants belonging to the genus Achillea are widely used in traditional medicine and attract attention with their various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer properties. Achillea alimeana is a new plant species discovered in Çameli district of Denizli province (Türkiye) in 2022. There is limited information about the biological activities of this plant. This study aimed to elucidate the potential biological effects of A. alimeana on two different human lung cancer cell lines (A549 and H1975). In this context, using these cell lines, the cytotoxic effects of A. alimeana were examined in vitro, its apoptotic effects were determined by Annexin V staining, luciferase activity analysis, and RT-PCR method as well as evaluating its migration and invasion capacity. The results showed that A. alimeana may have different degree of antiproliferative effect on both cell lines, triggering apoptotic and necrotic death using different signaling pathways. It also exhibited anti-migratory and antiinvasive properties by inhibiting the migration and invasion abilities of the cells. This thesis study has provided the identification of a plant with new anticarcinogenic effects in the literature. In future studies, isolating the active ingredients in this plant may allow for the identification of new drug active ingredients and the production of high economic outputs.