Cytotoxic screening for three extracts of two plants using MTT assay and flow cytometric techniques.

OBJECTIVES

This study was set out to screen the cytotoxic activity of three extracts of two plants against three cancer cell lines.

METHODS

Cytotoxic activity of three extracts of these two plants (Haplophyllum tuberculatum (H) and Sonchus oleraceus L.(S)) was tested against three cell lines: HeLa uterus (H2), A431 skin (A2), and MCF breast (M2) using the MTT assay and the flow cytometric technique in vitro.

RESULTS

The results revealed that similar yield percentages were obtained. Extract fractions from the first plant HF3 exerted high effects (>75%) on the three cell lines. The aqueous extract of HF3 exhibited significant (P < 0.001) cell growth inhibition activities estimated as (inhibitory concentration 50 in m/mL) of (0.73 ± 0.08, 0.7566 ± 0.12, and 0.65 ± 0.04) on the HeLa, A431, and MCF7 cells, respectively, compared to standard doxorubicin.

CONCLUSIONS

The study concluded that similar yield percentages were obtained. Plant H exhibited higher activity, especially in its aqueous extract. Isolation, identification of the active (s) compounds, and determination of the mechanism of action were highly required.