Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Cytotoxic Effects of Artemisia annua Methanol Extract on Cancer Cell Lines in Vitro

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

A Emami 1
SH Zamani Taghizadeh Rabe 2
A Ahi 3
M Mahmoudi 4

1 Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Master of Science in Immunology, Immunology Research Center, BuAli Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Researcher, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

4 Professor of Immunology, Immunology Research Center, BuAli Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract
Background & Aims: In most cases, drugs used for the treatment of cancer are not effective or have unpleasant side-effects. This has forced scientists to find more effective drugs with less toxicity. Artemisia is an important medicinal plant in the world and anti-tumoral activity of some Artemisia species has been reported. This study was designed for evaluation of anti-tumoral effect of methanol extract isolated from Artemisia annua on different cancer cell lines. Methods: Methanol extract of Artemisia annua was prepared. Cultivated gastric (AGS), cervix (Hela), colon (HT-29) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines and normal fibroblast cells (L929) were incubated with different concentrations of methanol extract for 72 hours and cell growth inhibition was determined using MTT assay. Results: Results of MTT assay showed strong and dose-dependent inhibition of cancer cell growth by methanol extract of Artemisia annua. This extract caused a significant decrease in proliferation of tested cancer cell lines and had less toxicity on normal cells. Conclusion: Since the results suggest anti- tumoral activity of Artemisia annua, isolation of effective compound/s of this extract and evaluation of its/their effects on tumor-bearing animal models are suggested.

Keywords

Artemisia annua
Tumor cell lines
Growth inhibitors
MTT assay
Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume 17, Issue 3
2010
Pages 215-225

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