Apoptotic effect of herbal extract and chemotherapeutic agent on cancer cells

Atefeh Shamosi,1,* Hamid darafshi,2 Alireza shams,3 Mahlaa alizadeh,4 Fatemeh kermanian mojarad,5 Soraya parvari,6

1. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
2. Dean of Alborz medical university, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
3. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
4. School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
5. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
6. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction

Nigella sativa, commonly known as black seed, has been applied in traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseases. the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties of nigella sativa extracts are well known. to evaluate for possible effects of herbal extract from chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin, the ethanolic extracs of nigella sativa seeds were used.

Methods

Human epithelial type 2 (hep-2) cells treated with 0.5 to 5 μg/ml ethanolic extracts of nigella sativa and doxorubicin for 72 h. cell viability was investigated by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2, 5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide (mtt) assay and trypan blue staining. expression of specific genes such as bcl-2 and p53 was evaluated by real time pcr.

Results

The results after 72 h revealed that the apoptotic rate of hep-2 cells treated with both herbal and chemotherapeutic agents was significantly higher than the other groups (p < 0.05). the expression of apoptotic markers significantly increased in cells treated with both agents (p<0.001) compared with control and single dose treatment groups.

Conclusion

Application of herbal and chemotherapeutic agents in our study was denoted to have a good effect on apoptosis inducing. so, nigella sativa extract with chemotherapeutic agents can be suitable candidate to be used as synergistic therapeutic agents in cancer treatment.

Keywords

Apoptosis - nigella sativa oil - chemotherapeutic agents - neuroblastoma cells.