Quercetagetin From Tagetes erecta Differentially Induces Autophagy and Ferroptosis in MDA-MB-231 and JC Breast Cancer Cells.

Quercetagetin is a flavonoid that has shown antiproliferative effects against different human cancers. We thoroughly analysed the effects of quercetagetin obtained from Tagetes erecta on human triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and murine breast cancer cells (JC) to elucidate its underlying antineoplastic mechanisms. Quercetagetin exerted dose-dependent antiproliferative effects on both cell lines (half-maximal inhibitory concentration: 188 and 282 μM, respectively). While it eliminated MDA-MB-231 cells via both apoptosis and autophagy, it predominantly eliminated JC cells via ferroptosis. Our results demonstrate that quercetagetin induces different programmed cell death pathways in a species-specific manner. Notably, quercetagetin did not significantly affect the proliferation of noncancerous lymphocytic cells. These data may facilitate the development of anticancer drugs that induce programmed cell death with fewer side effects.