Introduction: Mumie is a natural material found in some mountains, such as the Himalayas, as well as in parts of the mountainous regions of Iran. It contains of humic and phenolic compounds that have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Therefore, in this study, anti-cancer and anti-oxidant properties of mumie were examined on cervical cancer cell line. Human cervical cancer cells (HeLa).
Methods: HeLa cells and normal fibroblasts (105 cells per well) were cultured in 96-well plates with DMEM/F12 media containing 10% FBS and 1% Pen/Strep. After 24 hours, cells were treated with mumie solution at concentrations of 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 1000 µg/ml for 24 and 48 h. The bioviability of cells were evaluated using MTT assay. Chromatin condensation and apoptosis of cells were examined using acridine orange and aniline blue stainings respectively in 24-well plates (3×105 cells in each well). Antioxidant property of mumie was evaluated after adding10 mM H2O2 to different concentrations of mumie and then bioviability of normal fibroblasts were measured by a neutral red test. All experiments were performed three times in three well of each plate. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA test with a significant level of p≤0.05.
Results: MTT assay revealed that the bioavailability of HeLa cells decreased from concentration of 100 μg/ml significantly. Chromatin condensation of these cells increased from concentration of 100 μg/ml. Apoptosis of the HeLa cells were observed at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. Mumie did not affect the bioavailability, chromatin condensation and apoptosis of normal fibroblasts but concentrations of 500 and 1000 μg/ml were toxic and caused the cell death. The cell cultures in different concentrations of mumie after 24 and 48 h showed the similar results. Bioavailability of normal fibroblasts increased in 500 and 1000 μg/ml concentrations of co-culture of H2O2 and mumie solution that confirmed its antioxidant property.
Conclusion: It concluded that even low concentrations of mumie could destroy human cervical cancer cells without any side effect on normal cells. Therefore, it can be used for cervical cancer treatment but further research is needed.