| Introduction: Medical plants have been intensively studied as a source of antitumor compounds. In the
present study, we determine the effect of Scrophularia oxysepala on triggering apoptosis and diminishing
growth, size and weight of the tumor in the allograft model of Balb/c mice.
Material & methods: The cytotoxic effects of Scrophularia oxysepala extract on 4T1 cells were studied using
MTT (3-[4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2, 5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay and Trypan blue staining.
DNA fragmentation assay was done for apoptosis detection. After the establishment of tumor in Balb/c
mice, two groups of mice were received the extract at two doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg respectively using
intraperitoneal injection once every two days for 28 days. In order to assess the induction of apoptosis in
cancer cells, the TUNEL assay was carried out in tumoral tissues. Moreover, the Ki67 test was used to
evaluate tumor proliferation.
Results: According to the
findings, the Scrophularia oxysepala extract inhibited cell growth. In vivo results
showed that tumor size in mice treated with the extract was significantly reduced. The weight of tumor
mass in treated mice after resection was less than the control group. According to the TUNEL (Terminal
deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assay results, the herbal extract induced apoptosis
in tumoral cells. Ki67 test also demonstrated that administration of the extract suppressed the growth of
tumor cells.
Conclusion: Our data well approved the anti-proliferative effect of Scrophularia oxysepala extract, and
clearly showed that, the plant extract can decrease the growth of breast cancer cells in tumor mass. Thus
it may represent an ideal therapeutic tool for breast cancer. |