Cytotoxic Effects of Methanolic Extract of Ferula assa-foetida on SKOV-3 and MIA PaCa-2 Cells

Abstract

Introduction: Previous studies have demonstrated cytotoxic effects of Ferula assa-foetida. In the present study, the anti-proliferative effect of this plant on two species of cancer cells related to pancreatic cancer (MIA PaCa-2) and ovarian cancer (SKOV-3) was investigated.

Materials and Methods: 100 grams of powdered herb dissolved in 500 milliliter of methanol was placed in Soxhlet extractor for 72 hours. After adding trypsin to the medium, cells were cultured in serum containing medium. A serial dilution of extract was created with 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 microgram per milliliter concentrations. Plates were fed with 200 microliters of new mediums at the end of their growth and 50 microliters of MTT were added to all wells of 1 to 11 columns. After incubation, mediums and MTT were removed from the wells and remaining crystals were resolved by adding DMSO. After adding glycine buffer (25 μl per well), we immediately read the results at wavelength of 570 nanometer using an ELISA reader.

Results: Concentrations of 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 micrograms per milliliter of methanolic extract of Ferula asa-foetida had significant cytotoxic effect on SKOV-3 and MIA PaCa-2 cancer cells with a P-Value of <0.05. These changes were time-dependent.

Discussion and Conclusion: Besides their several medical uses, medicinal herbs have recently turned out to have antineoplastic effects. One of these herbs is Ferula assa-foetida. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-proliferative effects of this plant on ovarian and pancreatic cancer cells.