Effect of Hydro-Alcoholic Extracts of Viola Tricolor and its Fractions on Proliferation of Cervix Carcinoma Cells

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant professor of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Assistant professor of Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Student of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Recent studies have shown that Viola tricolor contains some cyclotide compounds which have potent cytotoxic effects. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Viola tricolor and its fractions on proliferation of cervix carcinoma cells.
Methods: Using a soxhalet apparatus, the hydro-alcoholic extract was obtained which was further fractionated into aqueous fraction, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. The cells were cultivated in 96-well plate and incubated for 24 hours with different concentrations (0, 100, 200, 400 and 800 µg/ml) of the extract or its fractions. The cell-proliferation rate was determined by MTT colorimetric assay. Data was collected and analyzed by using one-way ANOVA. For multiple comparisons, Tukey test was used. Results were expressed as mean±SD. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The hydro-alcoholic extract and n-butanol fraction, at 800 µg/ml, significantly reduced (31 and 49%, respectively) proliferation of Hela cells. Similarly, concentrations of 400 and 800 µg/ml of ethyl acetate fraction significantly decreased (25 and 60%, respectively) the surviving cells. None of the concentrations of aqueous fraction could change the percentage of live cells.
Conclusion: Hydro-alcoholic extract of V. tricolor exhibits potent inhibitory effect on proliferation of cervix carcinoma cells. The main component(s) containing this effect is most likely found in ethyl acetate fraction of this plant.

Keywords

References

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