Cytotoxic Effect of Taraxacum officinale Extract in Cancer Cell

Abstract

Introduction: Although current cancer chemotherapy is mainly a treatment for inhibition of cancer cell proliferation in different stages, cancer is still the most common diseases with high incidence and mortality rates. Moreover, chemotherapy has several serious side effects, especially myelosuppression, and cannot provide beneficial effects in all cancer patients. Therefore, searching new active ingredients from plants for cancer treatment is attractive. Taraxacum officinale(dandelion) contains several active substances, such as taraxasterol that has demonstrated anti-  tumor properties. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effect of ethanolic extract of T. officinale in HeLa cells (human cervical carcinoma). Materials and Methods: Seven concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 20, 50 and100 mg/ml) of T. officinale extract were prepared in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium(DMEM) without serum. Each concentration of extract was added in 96-well plate that occupied by HeLa cells. After 24-hour incubation, cell viability was analyzed by 3-[4,5 -dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 -diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Triton X (1 and 2%) was used as positive control. Result: Percentages of viability of HeLa cells treated with T. officinale extract at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 20, 50 and100 mg/ml were 42.21±21.26, 14.06±13.33, 9.29±13.43, 3.34±1.0 9, 2.70±0.49, 4.65±1.38and1.00±1.69%, respectively. Conclusion: All concentrations of T. officinaleextract showed growth inhibitory effect in HeLa cells with the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value less than 0.01 mg/ml.