Anticancer effects and cell cycle analysis on human breast cancer T47D cells treated with extracts of Astrodaucus persicus (Boiss.) Drude in comparison to doxorubicin

Abstract

Background and purpose of the study: There are considerable efforts to identify naturally occurring substances as new drugs in cancer therapy. Many components from dietary or medicinal plants have been identified that possess substantial chemopreventive properties. Iran has unique plant varieties yet to be studied for anticancer components. Therefore, anticancer effects and cell cycle alterations caused by Astrodaucus persicus (Boiss.) Drude, an Iranian species of family of Umbelliferae, in human breast cancer T47D cells was investigated.

Material and Methods: The T47D cells were seeded in 96-well culture plates in the presence and absence of different concentrations of either aerial or root extracts of A. persicus to determine their anticancer effects in comparison to doxorubicin using MTT assay. The changes in the cell cycle pattern of T47D cells using DAPI reagent in flow cytometric analysis was also studied.

Results: Both extracts of A. persicus showed strong antiproliferative effects on T47D cells when compared to RPMI control and doxorubicin. The cytotoxicity of the root extract was greater than aerial extract of A. persicus. Both extracts showed pattern of cell cycle relatively similar to RPMI and significantly different from doxorubicin.

Conclusion: These data are first report on potential anticancer activity of A. persicus extracts and its possible mechanism of action on cancer cell proliferation.