Cytotoxicity of <i>Sambucus ebulus</i> on cancer cell lines and protective effects of vitamins C and E against its cytotoxicity on normal cell lines

Abstract

Isolation and identification of potent anti-tumor compounds from medicinal plants, has motivated researchers to screen plant species for anti-tumor effects. Regarding the traditional utilization of Sambucus ebulus, Iranian native botany and its active ingredients (e.g. ebulitin and ebulin 1), cytotoxicity of ethyl acetate extract from S. ebulus (SEE) on HepG2 and CT26 cancer cell lines was investigated. Also, protective effects of vitamins C and E against SEE-induced cytotoxicity on normal cell lines were studied. Cytotoxicity of SEE on cancer (HepG2 and CT26) and normal (CHO and rat fibroblast) cell lines was evaluated by MTT assay. IC₅₀ of SEE on the cell lines was assessed. Furthermore, IC₅₀ of SEE on normal cell lines with exposure to vitamins C, E and C+E was studied. SEE possessed lower IC50 in cancer cell lines compared with normal cell lines. It manifested high cytotoxicity that can act as anticancer compound. Also, cytotoxicity of SEE on normal cell lines in presence of vitamins C+E, E and C decreased. The results demonstrate that SEE is an effective cytotoxic agent on liver and colon cancer cells and suggest that vitamins C and E may protect normal cells, when SEE were used in cancer therapy in future.

Keywords: Sambucus ebulus, cytotoxicity, IC₅₀, MTT assay, cell line, vitamins C and E.

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(21), pp. 3360-3365