The Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Cuscuta Europaea on Breast Cancer Cells (Mcf7) in Comparison with Kidney Epithelial Cells (Vero cell line)

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown that plants of Family Cuscutaceae can affect the growth and development of cancer cells. It is important that the herbs used for non-cancerous cells do not have cytotoxic effects. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of Cuscuta europaea on the viability of breast cancer cells (MCF7) compared to non-cancerous kidney epithelial cells (Vero cell line). METHODS: In this experimental study, Vero cells and MCF7 cells were prepared from Pasteur Institute Cell Bank and divided into the control group and the groups treated with doses of 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg / ml. 48 hours after exposure, the cytotoxic effect of the extract was measured by MTT. FINDINGS: Compared with the control group, exposure to dose of 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/ml of hydroalcoholic extract of Cuscuta europaea reduced the viability of MCF7 cells (54.47±0.35, 55±0.42, 44.62±0.38, and 4.64±0.73%, respectively) and Vero cells (58.42±0.45, 48.61±0.55, 43.14±0.23, and 5.35±0.27%, respectively) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of Cuscuta europaea can simultaneously cause toxicity in non-cancerous cells, although it has toxic effects on breast cancer cells, and in this regard, the use of this extract in the treatment of breast cancer does not seem favorable due to its toxic effects on non-cancerous cells.

Keywords

• Cuscuta Europaea
• MCF7
• Vero
• Viability