Evaluation of cytotoxic effect of Echium amoenum Fisch & C.A Mey and Cuscuta epithymum extracts on breast cancer cells in invitro system.

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: In the authentic texts of the Iranian traditional school of medicine, 107 species of herbal medicine in the control and treatment of cancer have been cited. Of these, the cytotoxic and anticancer properties of 59 plant species or their chemical compounds have been confirmed to date in pharmacological research. These compounds, through their effects on different molecular pathways, can stop cell cycle and induce apoptosis in cancerous cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the apoptotic activity of Echium amoenum Fisch & C.A Mey and Cuscuta epithymum in human(MDA-MB-231) and mouse(4T1) tumor cells. materials and methods: In order to investigate the cytotoxic effects of Echium amoenum Fisch & C.A Mey and Cuscuta epithymum extract(s), MTT assay was performed. Annexin / PI was used to evaluate apoptosis. In order to investigate the cytotoxic effect of these plants on expression of Caspase 3, Caspase 9 and Bcl-2 genes, Real Time PCR was used. Wound healing assay was performed to evaluate the cellular migration in cancer cells. Results: MTT assay showed that methanolic, dichloromethane and n-hexane extracts of Echium amoenum Fisch & C.A Mey and Cuscuta epithymum, in a dose-dependent manner, significantly inhibited the growth of cancer cells. According to the results of Annexin / PI test, the dichloromethane extracts of both plants showed a significant potential for apoptosis in breast cancer cells. The results showed that dichloromethane extracts of Echium amoenum Fisch & C.A Mey and Cuscuta epithymum significantly increased the expression of Caspase 3 and 9 genes while reducing the expression of Bcl-2 gene. The wound healing assay showed that the same extract could inhibit cancer cell migration compared to other two extracts. Conclusion: The results showed that dichloromethane extracts of both Echium amoenum Fisch & C.A Mey and Cuscuta epithymum plants could reduce the growth of breast cancer cells, cause apoptosis and inhibit cell migration in cancer cells compared to other extracts. Therefore, these extract may be a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of breast cancer along with other treatments. Key words: Echium amoenum Fisch & C.A Mey, Cuscuta epithymum, Apoptosis, 4T1, MDA-MB-231