Evaluation of cytotoxic activity of fractions of potent extract of Eryngium thyrsoideum on cancerous (MCF-7) and non- cancerous (HFFF-2) cell lines in vitro

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and has been growing in recent years. Natural products and derivatives of medicinal plants can play an important role to cure cancer. Eryngium (Apiaceae family) has some important pharmacological activities such as: antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. Scope: According to the cytotoxic effects of different species of Eryngium, it seems to be logical to evaluate cytotoxic activities of fractions of potent extract of E. thyrsoideum on breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231). Methods: The aerial parts of this species were extracted using n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol by Soxhlet apparatus, respectively. potent extract (Dried methanolic extract) was subjected to C18 Sep-Pak using mobile phase of MeOH-Water. Subsequently, Cytotoxic effect of different extracts and fractions of potent extract was assessed by MTT colorimetric assay against MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer cell lines) and HFFF-2 (Normal Human Fibroblast cell line) cell lines during 24 and 48 hours. Subsequently, Apoptosis was evaluated on cancer cells by flow cytometry using Annexin V/PI staining. Results: Among the different fractions of methanolic extract, 80% SPE fraction significantly (p<0.001) inhibited the growth of breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). It is worth to mention that; 80% fraction selectively inhibit the growth of cancerous cells with minimum effect on normal cells. Also inhibition of the proliferation of cancerous cell lines with MeOH 80% fraction was dose-dependently and time-dependently (p<0.001). Flow cytometry analysis showed that potent fraction caused cell death with apoptosis. Conclusions: methanol extract and its 80% fraction for having potent secondary metabolites significantly inhibit the cancerous cells via apoptosis and had minimum toxicity on normal cell line.