Celastrol suppresses breast cancer MCF-7 cell viability via the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-induced p53-polo like kinase 2 (PLK-2) pathway

► We investigated the molecular mechanisms of celastrol-induced cancer apoptosis. ► We showed that celastrol induced the apoptosis of breast cancer MCF7 cells through AMPK. ► We found that p53/PLK-2 were involved in celastrol-induced MCF7 cells apoptosis. ► We understand the molecular mechanism of anti-tumor effects of celastrol on MCF-7 cells.