Disruption of EMT Signaling and Migration by Moringa oleifera Leaf Powder-Silver Nanoparticles (MOLP-AgNPs) in HeLa Cervical Cancer Cells

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Raisha Anis Fatiha, Christian Kencana Ngabdi, Jihan Salwa Azizah, Bintang Sukma Natalsah Putri, Bayu Lestari, Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek, Hendra Susanto, Wibi Riawan, Happy Kurnia Permatasari

2026 Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention Vol. 27 Issue 3 Article Cited by 0

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the potential anticancer effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder–silver nanoparticles (MOLP-AgNPs) by assessing their impact on epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and cell migration in HeLa cervical cancer cells. Methods: HeLa cells were treated with MOLP-AgNPs at concentrations of 2, 4, and 6 µg/mL, alongside an untreated control group. Cell viability was assessed using the trypan blue exclusion method to determine non-toxic concentrations. A scratch (wound-healing) assay was used to evaluate cell migration, while immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the expression of EMT-related proteins Snail and vimentin. Result: MOLP-AgNPs significantly inhibited cell migration in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Additionally, the expression of Snail and vimentin was markedly downregulated following treatment, indicating suppression of EMT-related pathways (p < 0.001). Conclusion: These exploratory preclinical findings suggest that MOLP-AgNPs exert anti-migratory effects on cervical cancer cells by modulating EMT. Although HeLa is a non-metastatic cell line, this study highlights the potential of MOLP-AgNPs as a promising candidate for further investigation in metastatic cancer models. © This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License.

Affiliations

Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, 81310, Malaysia; Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials (CSNano), Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, 81310, Malaysia; Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Biochemistry and Biomolecular, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia