Abstract:

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic, apoptotic and necrotic effects of Inula viscosa on mouse fibroblast cell line (L929), human breast cancer cell line (MCF7) and human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549). The WST-1 (4-[3-(4-Iodophenyl) -2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-benzene disulfonate, BioVision) test was used to determine cytotoxicity. Apoptotic and necrotic rates were determined by double staining technique, Propidium iodide and Hoechst 33342.The water extract of Inula viscosa extract caused cytotoxicity in a dose dependent manner on L929, MCF7, and A549 cell lines with IC50 values of 0.217 mg/ml, 0.102 mg/ml, and 0.103 mg/ml, respectively. At all doses, the cell viability of L929 fibroblast cell line was significantly the highest compared to MCF7 and A549 cell lines (p= 0.0001), except for doses of 0.5mg/ml and 0.015625mg/ml.  Both apoptotic and necrotic rates changed in a dose dependent manner in all three cell lines and cell death occurred through apoptosis, but mainly necrosis. Except in few concentrations, MCF7 cell line seems to be the most sensitive to Inula viscosa extract with the highest apoptotic and necrotic rates (p=0.0001) while L929 fibroblasts seem to the least sensitive with the least apoptotic and necrotic rates (p=0.0001). Further studies should focus on chemical constituents of Inula viscosa raised in different region of the territory and additional mechanistic studies to reveal exact mechanism of cell death that may provide additional treatment modalities in cancer cases.

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