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Background: Breast cancer is a common human neoplasia in women. Species of the Lamiaceae plant have been found to exert in vitro anti-proliferative activity on breast cancer cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the extracts of ten species from the Lamiaceae family on a breast cancer cell line. We also examined the selective indices of the fractions and essential oil of the most effective extract. Methods: The plant species were harvested, dried and authenticated. The hydro-alcoholic extract of each plant was examined for its cytotoxicity on the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) using MTT assay. The n-Hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions were prepared from Nepeta crispa extract. Hydro-distillation method was used to isolate the Nepeta crispa's essential oil. The essential oil and the fractions were examined in vitro for the cytotoxic effects against both HEK293 and MCF-7 cell lines. Results: The Nepeta crispa extract exhibited significant cytotoxic activity on MCF-7 (IC50 = 59 ±3.4μg/mL) compared to other extracts. The n-hexane fraction of Nepeta crispa demonstrated the highest cytotoxicity (IC50 = 65.47 ±4.3μg/mL) among other fractions. The essential oil exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition against the growth of cancer cells, and showed the most inhibitory effect against MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 18.15 ±2.7μg/mL) with a selectivity index of 9.69. Conclusions: Based on the results, the n-hexane fraction and essential oil of Nepeta crispa may be the potential sources of biologically active components to develop novel drugs for breast cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chemoprevention of cancer by application of natural phytochemical compounds has been used to prevent, delay or suppress cancer progression. Cuscuta chinensis a traditional Iranian medicinal herb, has biological properties including anticancer, antiaging, immuno-stimulatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, anti-proliferative effects of hydroalcoholic extract of C. chinensis on prostate (PC3) and breast (MCF7) cancer cell lines were investigated. Materials and Methods: In the current study, we investigated treatment of PC3 cells with different concentrations of C. chinensis (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 µg/ml) for 24 and 48 hr; also, MCF7 cells were treated with various concentrations (0-600 µg/ml) of C. chinensis for 48 and 72 hr and cell viability was assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. mRNA expression of BCL2 Associated X (Bax), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), Cysteine-aspartic proteases (Caspase3) and Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Annexin V/PI staining and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assay were used to detect apoptosis. Results: C. chinensis decreased PC3 and MCF7 cells viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner (p<0.01 to p<0.001). The gene expression of BAX/Bcl2 ratio, Caspase3 and PTEN increased in C. chinensis-treated cells compared to the control group. C. chinensis induced apoptosis (p<0.001) and LDH activity (p<0.01 to p<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that C. chinensis extract is able to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in PC3 and MCF7 cell lines. Therefore, C. chinensis extract exerts antitumor activity against cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer. A proper method to reduce mortality of CRC is chemoprevention to prevent initiation and promotion of intestinal tumorgenesis. One of the promising and developing chemopreventive agents is natural compounds found in plants. Frankincense, the resin extract from the Boswellia specious, has been used in traditional and modern medicine for treating various diseases with very minimal side effects. In the current study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of methanolic extract of Boswellia serrata ( B. serrata ) on HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Methods HT-29 cells were treated with different concentrations of B. serrata and cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. mRNA expression of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) were examined by quantitative real-time PCR. Apoptosis was evaluated by the proportion of sub-G1 cells. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) level and caspase 3 activity were determined by ELISA assay. Tube formation potential and HT-29 cells migration were assessed using three-dimensional vessel formation assay and scratch test. Results B. serrata extract considerably decreased the expression of mPGES-1, VEGF, CXCR4, MMP-2, MMP-9 and HIF-1. The caspase 3 activity and percent of cells in sub-G1 phase were increased by B. serrata extract. Cell viability, PGE2 generation, in vitro tube formation and cell migration were decreased significantly in B. serrata –treated HT-29 compared to the control group. Conclusion Our findings suggest that B. serrata extract inhibits proliferation, angiogenesis and migration and induces apoptosis in HT-29 cells by inhibiting of mPGES-1 and decreasing the PGE2 level and its downstream targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]