Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aim: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and its treatment is always associated with side effects such as drug resistance. So, there is a strong tendency for the identification of new herbal anti-cancer compounds.
Material and Methods: In this study, a range of 0.5-12 µg/mL of hydroalcoholic extract of Tamarindus indica kernel and 5-Fluorouracil was applied to prostate cancer (LNCaP), colon cancer (HT-29) and normal fibroblast (HSkMC) cells for 24 hours. The cytotoxic effect of the extracts was measured by the MTT method. The rate of DNA synthesis and incidence of apoptosis was measured by BrdU and TUNEL assays, respectively.
Results: Following treatment with the highest amount of the extract, the viability of prostate, colon, and fibroblast cells was reduced to 4.8, 65.1, and 60.5%, respectively. The IC₅₀ for the three cell lines was 4.60, 17.0 and 13.79 μg/mL respectively. The rate of DNA synthesis also reduced by 32, 37 and 15% for prostate, colon and fibroblast cancer cells, respectively. The rate of apoptosis in LNCaP and HT-29 cells was 31 and 4%, respectively.
Conclusion: Collectively, the toxicity of the extract was higher for LNCaP cells than for the other two cells (p-value ˂0.01). Further studies in vivo and analysis of compounds in tamarind can lead to the identification of anti-cancer compounds from this plant.

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Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of different herbal medicines (Achillea wilhelmsii, Silybum marianumseed, Echinacea purpurea, Adiantum capillus-venerisand apricot kernel) against breast cancer cells (Mcf-7).
Material and method: For this purpose, the plants were dried and milled, then, soaked in 70% ethanol for 72 hours and their extracts were extracted using a rotary evaporator.Different concentrations of herbal extracts (12.5, 25, 50 and 100 μg/ml) were added to the cancer cell culture medium and their cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects were investigated after 24h by MTT assay and acridine orange - ethidium bromide staining, respectively.Data was analyzed by SPSS software at the significant level of 5%.
Results: Addition of the highestconcentration of all extracts to the culture mediumshowed the most significant anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects (p < 0.05) compared to other concentrations of the same extracts.Also, among the high concentrations (100μg/ml), the highest cell cytotoxicity effects were related to the extracts of Echinacea purpureaand Adiantum capillus-veneris (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the addition of Echinacea purpurea and Adiantum capillus-venerisextractsto the cell culturesin high concentrationshad the most significant anti proliferative and apoptotic effects on breast cancer cells in comparison with other plant extractsand concentrations.
 

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study is investigation of cell toxicity of oxaliplatin on colon cancer cell line and analysis of caspase 3 and 9 apoptotic genes.
Material and methods: In this experimental study, cytotoxicity of oxaliplatin on colon cancer cell line (HT29) was evaluated using MTT method in different concentrations including 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 and 3.125 µg/mL and the IC50 value was determined. After treatment of HT29 cells with IC50 value, the cells RNA was extracted and converted to cDNA. Subsequently, the expression level of caspase 3 and caspase 9 apoptotic genes comparing to house-keeping gene (β-actin) was measured using Real Time PCR.
Results: Treatment of HT29 cells with various concentrations of oxaliplatin including show that oxaliplatin has the highest cytotoxic effect in 100 µg/mL, which is statistically significant (p < 0.05). In addition to, the IC50 value of oxaliplatin was 6 µg/mL. Moreover, the expression ratio of caspase 3 and 9 genes comparing to β-actin gene in HT29 cells treated with oxaliplatin were up-regulated (2.69±0.72 (p < 0.001), 3.26±0.56 (p < 0.001), respectively).  
Conclusion: According to cell toxicity and apoptosis induction in HT29 cells by oxaliplatin, it can be concluded that this drug is an appropriate choice for treating of colon cancer.
 

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.