ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. (Apiaceae) is an edible, indigenous, and ethnomedicinal plant that grows only in Iran. Although antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of K. odoratissima have been reported, cytotoxic activity of this plant has not been investigated previously. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity of K. odoratissima leaf extract against a panel of human cancer cell lines. A secondary aim was to perform a phytochemical analysis of the plant's leaf oil. METHODS: To extract the plant oil, dried leaves were subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus for up to 3 hours. For the phytochemical analysis, essential oil was subjected to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Plant extraction was performed by macerating leaf powder of K. odoratissima (50 g) in 70% methanol (500 mL) at room temperature (25-28°C) for 24 hours. To perform cytotoxicity assays, methanolic extract of K. odoratissima was tested against a panel of cell lines including MDA-MB468 (human breast cancer cell line), K562 (human leukemia cell line), SKOV3 (human ovarian cancer cell line), Y79 (human eye cancer cell line), A549 (lung cancer cell line), and HEK 293 (normal human embryonic kidney cell line). RESULTS: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis revealed that sesquiterpens are dominant volatile components of the plant, followed by phthalides comprising 3-butyldine phthalide and 3-n-butyl phthalide, the latter compound being the major component of the leaf oil (25.1%). The leaf extract showed selective and dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MDA-MB468, K562, SKOV3, Y79, and A549 cancer cell lines with IC50 values (concentration that inhibits cell growth by 50%) of 85 µg/mL, 70 µg/mL, 120 µg/mL, 82 µg/mL, and145 µg/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest a direct cytotoxic activity of K. odoratissima leaf extract against human cancer cell lines. This activity of K. odoratissima may find application in combination with traditional herbal medicines to develop a new anticancer pharmacopuncture therapy.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Apiaceae/chemistry , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , A549 Cells , Cell Line, Tumor , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , HEK293 Cells , Humans , K562 Cells , Plants, Edible/chemistry , Plants, Medicinal/chemistryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Worldwidely cultivated, melon is commercially an important fruit crop, as it is in Iran. OBJECTIVES: Establishment of an efficient in vitro plant regeneration system plays a pivotal role in the plant transformation, hence, the importance of regeneration protocol for Iranian melon (Cucumis melo L. var. Gorgab) has encouraged us to work on in vitro melon regeneration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effect of selective media, including various concentrations of the 6-benzyladenine (BA), cefotaxime, as well as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on regeneration of the cotyledonary petioles derived from a 6-day-old in vitro grown seedlings were assessed. RESULTS: The highest frequency of regeneration rate was recorded at 1.5 mg.L-1 of the BA plus 250 mg.L-1 cefotaxime in addition to 1 mg.L-1 BA plus 1000 mg.L-1 cefotaxime. The highest percentage of the shoot formation (100%) was recorded at 1 mg.L-1 BA plus 1000 mg.L-1 cefotaxime, while, it was relatively lower (75%) on than the medium containing 1.5 mg.L-1 BA in combination with 250 mg.L-1 cefotaxime. The highest root induction was observed in the medium containing 500 mg.L-1 cefotaxime + 0.1 mg.L-1 IAA. A significant positive influence on roots and leaves formation, as well as their number, in addition to regeneration of shoots was observed as well. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first work reporting an appropriate regeneration procedure for the melon, an Iranian native crop.
