Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aims: This study was aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Blepharis persica seed and its synergy effect with doxorubicin on human breast cancer and prostate cancer cell lines.
Materials and Methods: hydroalcoholic extract of  seed was prepared using maceration, and ethanol­%70. Eight concentrations of extract and four concentrations of combined with doxorubicin (125, 62.5ngr/ml) and extract (0.625, 0.315­mg/ml) were prepared. MCF7, LNCaP and SKM cell lines were cultured .Cell­­ viability was evaluated by MTT assay after 24­h. To show apoptosis inductionof breast and prostate­ cancer cell death by extracts, Annexin/PI test were performed. BCL₂ gene expression was analyzed using Real-Time RT-qPCRfor 24,48h.
Results: The highest effects of growth inhibition were observed in the prostate, breast and fibroblast cell lines with extract, respectively. The combined effect of doxorubicin with extract in three cell lines in comparison with control did not show any significant difference. The results of Annexin / PI indicated that the percentage of initial apoptosis, delayed  apoptosis and necrosis in treated cells increased compared to control. BCL₂ expression in cell lines decreased significantly over 24 and 48 h compares to control(p < 0.01).
Conclusion: hydroalcoholic extract of B.persica seed has ability to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cell lines as well as the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells, compared with using it with doxorubicin, although the extract did not have any synergy effect with doxorubicin at lower concentrations, it can be a substituted for this kind of drug with fewer side effects.