Trigonella foenum in graecum (Fenugreek) is a traditional herbal plant used to 
treat disorders like diabetes, high cholesterol, wounds, inflammation, 
gastrointestinal ailments, and it is believed to have anti-tumor properties, 
although the mechanisms for the activity remain to be elucidated. In this study, 
we prepared a methanol extract from Fenugreek whole plants and investigated the 
mechanism involved in its growth-inhibitory effect on MCF- 7 human breast cancer 
cells. Apoptosis of MCF-7 cells was evidenced by investigating trypan blue 
exclusion, TUNEL and Caspase 3, 8, 9, p53, FADD, Bax and Bak by real-time PCR 
assays inducing activities, in the presence of FME at 65 μg/mL for 24 and 48 
hours. FME induced apoptosis was mediated by the death receptor pathway as 
demonstrated by the increased level of Fas receptor expression after FME 
treatment. However, such change was found to be absent in Caspase 3, 8, 9, p53, 
FADD, Bax and Bak, which was confirmed by a time-dependent and dose-dependent 
manner. In summary, these data demonstrate that at least 90% of FME induced 
apoptosis in breast cell is mediated by Fas receptor-independently of either 
FADD, Caspase 8 or 3, as well as p53 interdependently.