Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of shallot on breast cancer cells compared to carboplatin and taxol treatments. Material and methods: Different concentrations of drugs taxol and carboplatin and aqueous and alcoholic extracts of shallots were prepared. Using Trypan blue and MTT, cytotoxicity on breast cancer cells, in different times and concentrations were evaluated. Utilized Hoechst and propidum iodide staining morphological changes and possible apoptosis of cells were determined. The data statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and the mean level of P Results: The results indicate that shallot alcoholic extract has more inhibitory effects on cancer cells than aqueous extract at concentration range (0.01 to 0.05 g/L). Also, the simultaneous effect of shallot’s extract, accompaniment with carboplatin, caused enhancement in cytotoxicity of carboplatin. On the other hand, accompaniment of aqueous extract with taxol led to reduction of taxol cytotoxicity. Conclusions: This study showed aqueous and alcoholic extracts of shallots has cytotoxicity effects on breast cancer cells on rats affected by breast cancer. This plant is a herb which can be used against breast cancer  can be subjects for further research.