No abstract

Background: Terpenoids are produced by a wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms, which effectively plays a role in the survival of the organisms by means of functional, defensive and communicational attitudes. Objectives:The main purpose of the present study was isolation and elucidation of the natural terpenoids from the aerial parts of Tripleurospermum disciforme (Compositae/Asteraceae family). Methods: The phytochemical investigation of the dichloromethane extract of T. disciforme was carried out by various chromatographical methods such as column chromatography and thin layer chromatography. The major compounds were purified and their structures were established by using nuclear magnetic resonance and electron impact mass spectroscopic data. Moreover, the cytotoxic ability of the isolated compounds were measured on the human gastric carcinoma (AGS) and the mouse skin fibrosarcoma (WEHI-164) cell lines by using MTT assay. Molecular docking studies of the specialized metabolites were performed with Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, CDK2 accompanied by tubulin proteins using AutoDock Vina. Results: Three triterpenoids including (1) taraxasterol; (2) lupeol; and (3) betulinic acid were isolated and elucidated. Our cytotoxic results exhibited that compound 2 could be considered as an anti-tumor component with an IC50 value of 3.2 µM on WEHI-164 cell lines. Likewise, 3 displayed the potent cytotoxic activity, with an IC50 value of 5.6 µM on AGS cell lines. It is noteworthy to mention that the triterpenes 1 -3, newly reported in T. disciforme impacted on the prevention of tubulin polymerization because of the strong interaction with the vinblastine binding site of tubulin. Conclusions: Our data suggested that the isolated triterpenoides from T. disciforme possess anti-tumor properties, and may be included among the effective natural anti-tumors.

Background: Medicinal plants are traditionally used to prevent and treat various diseases, including cancer. Despite the development of advanced methods of treatment, cancer mortality is still increasing every year. Medicinal plants are one of the most important sources of anticancer agents. Objectives: The present study was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of the methanolic extracts of Datura innoxia petals, native to central and South America and distributed in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe, on the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Materials and Methods: The petals were collected, cleaned, and powdered. The extraction was conducted using the maceration method and then filtered, centrifuged, freeze-dried, and kept at 4°C. The MCF-7 and HEK-293 cell lines were treated with the methanolic extract of D. innoxia petals at various dilutions. Cell viability was quantitated using the MTT assay after 48 and 72 hours. The methanolic extract of D. innoxia petals showed cytotoxic effects on the MCF-7 cell lines at 48 and 72 hours of incubation but did not affect the non-malignant cell line HEK-293. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the methanolic extracts of D. innoxia petals can act as a possible food supplement with anticancer effects and can be used after complementary tests.

Background and Aim: One of the spices of compositae is the Sclerorhachis platyrachis that is Iranian native. This aromatic plant has been known as bacterial growth inhibitor. This study have been attempted to investigate antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity effect of Sclerorhachis platyrachis extractson the MCF-7 cell line. Materials and Methods:The Hexane (HE), Chloroform (CE), Ethyl acetate (EE), Methanolic extracts (ME) of Sclerorhachis platyrachis leaves prepared by usingmaceration method. The DPPH assay was used for determination of antioxidant activity. Also, total phenolic content measured. The cytotoxicity of the extracts on MCF-7 and HEK-293 cells evaluated using MTT assay in both 48h and 72h. Results: evaluation of antioxidant activity indicated that radical scavenging ability was as ascorbic acid> ME > EE > CE > HE, While, total phenolic content was as CE>ME>EE>HE. The highest and the lowest cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells were related to CE and ME respectively. Except for ethyl acetate extract, all extract were non toxic on the HEK-293 cells. Conclusion: Our findings showed that the chloroform extract of aerial part of Sclerorhachis platyrachis had the strongest effect against breast cancer carcinoma (MCF-7). Whereas, the extracts of this plant had no cytotoxicity on the normal cells.