Abstract
Purpose: Scrophularia variegata M. Beib. (Scrophulariaceae) is an Iranian medicinal
plant which is used for various inflammatory disorders in traditional medicine.
In this study we evaluated the anti-cancer and cytotoxic effects of the Scrophularia variegata (S. variegata) ethanolic extract on the human breast cancer cell line.
Methods: The cytotoxicity effect of the extract on MCF-7 cells
was evaluated by MTT assay. In addition, Caspase activity, DNA ladder and Cell
death were evaluated by ELISA, gel electrophoresis and Annexin V-FITC/PI
staining, respectively.
Results: The S. variegata extract showed significant effect cytotoxicity on MCF-7
human breast cancer cell line. Treatment with the extract induced
apoptosis on the breast cancer cells by cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. The
results indicated that cytotoxicity activity was associated with an increase of
apoptosis as demonstrated by DNA fragmentation as well as an increase of the
amount of caspase 3 and caspase 9. In addition, the phytochemical assay showed
that the extract had antioxidant capacity and also flavonoids, phenolic
compounds and phenyl propanoids were presented in the extract.
Conclusion:
Our findings indicated that S. variegata extract
induced apoptosis via mitochondrial intrinsic pathway on breast cancer by cell
cycle arrest in G2/M phase and an increase of caspase 3 and caspase 9. However
future studies are needed.