Selective Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis-Induction of Cyrtopodion scabrum Extract Against Digestive Cancer Cell Lines

Background: Cancer is one of the major threatening factors of human health worldwide. Unfortunately, chemotherapy, the powerful arm of cancer therapy, is accompanied with many side effects, so alternative treatments with greater specificities and fewer side effects are highly required. Methods: Human cancer cell lines including SW-742, HCT116, HepG2, Hep2, MKN45 and LNcap were selected and the anti-cancer potential of Cyrtopodion scabrum extract (CsE) on their growth was studied. Vero cells were used to study the potential cytotoxicity on the normal cells. Cell cycle analysis and DNA fragmentation assay were also performed. Results: CsE was toxic (30% - 78%) to all the cell lines, with the highest cytotoxicity on SW742, MKN45 and HepG2, respectively. A high selectivity index (> 2) was observed for the extract on SW742 and MKN45 cell lines. DNA laddering pattern, as well as a significant increase in the number of the cells accumulated in sub-G1 and G2-phase of the cell cycle compared to the control untreated cells, was also observed. Conclusions: CsE suppressed the human cancer cells selectively and probably through apoptosis and G2 arrest mechanism. It could suggest a promising alternative/complementary treatment for cancer patients, especially those who suffer from digestive tract cancer.