Comparative Effects of Turkish Rose Hip (Rosa canina L.) Extracts with Different Polarities on the Healthy and Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the most challenging health problems worldwide, and natural products continue to represent a promising source for safer and more selective anticancer agents. Rosa canina L. (rose hip), traditionally used in Türkiye for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, contains diverse bioactive compounds, including phenolics, carotenoids, and tocopherols, which may contribute to its anticancer potential. This study aimed to compare the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects of R. canina fruit extracts with different polarities (ethanolic and n-hexane) on human breast (MCF-7) and colorectal (HT-29) cancer cell lines, as well as their non-tumoral counterparts (MCF-10A and FHC). Extracts were prepared from fruits collected in Tokat, Türkiye, and applied to cells at 0.2-1.0 mg/mL for 24-72 h. Cytotoxicity (MTT assay), DNA damage (comet assay), and apoptosis (Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry) were evaluated in the cells. Both extracts exhibited dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity, while healthy cells were less affected. The ethanolic extract induced pronounced apoptosis in HT-29 cells at 0.2 mg/mL, whereas the n-hexane extract was more effective in MCF-7 cells at 0.6 mg/mL. No significant genotoxicity was observed in healthy cells, suggesting an antigenotoxic profile. Overall, R. canina extracts displayed selective anticancer effects primarily through apoptosis rather than DNA damage, indicating their potential as natural sources for the development of complementary therapeutic agents againts breast and colon cancers.