Investigating the cytotoxicity of the Ziziphus jujuba L., Ribes khorasanicum, Crocus sativus petal, and Centella asiatica extracts on the NIH/3T3 cell line

Abstract

Background and aim: Medicinal plants are utilized for treating different diseases in humans and the use of Ziziphus jujuba L., Ribes khorasanicum, Crocus sativus petal, and Centella asiatica for treating various diseases is increasing. In the current work, we investigated the cytotoxicity effect of Ziziphus jujuba L., Ribes khorasanicum, Crocus sativus petal, and Centella asiatica hydroalcoholic extract on the cell viability and morphology of the mouse embryonic fibroblast NIH/3T3 cell line. Materials and Methods: We prepared hydroalcoholic extracts of Ziziphus jujuba L., Ribes khorasanicum, Crocus sativus petal, and Centella asiatica, and NIH/3T3 cell line was treated with various concentrations (78.1, 156.5, 312.5, 625, 1250, 2500, and 5000 μg/ml) of four hydroalcoholic extract. Afterward, we investigated Cell viability with MTT assay and morphological changes using an inverted light microscope after 24h and 48 h. Results: Our results indicated that hydroalcoholic extracts of the Ziziphus jujuba L. and Ribes khorasanicum induce less toxicity and morphological change in the NIH/3T3 cells. NIH/3T3 cells exposed to several concentrations of Crocus sativus petal and Centella asiatica hydroalcoholic extract reduced cell viability and showed morphological changes such as decreased number of live cells, and lost their spindle-like shape compared to the control group in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that all extracts including Crocus sativus petal, Centella asiatica, Ziziphus jujuba L. and Ribes khorasanicum have not any cytotoxicity effects on NIH/3T3 cell line due to high IC50 although the safety of the Ziziphus jujuba L. and Ribes khorasanicum is more than the Crocus sativus petal, Centella asiatica.

Keywords

• Plants, Cytotoxicity, NIH 3T3 cells, Cell survival, MTT formazan