Cytotoxic screening for three extracts of two plants using MTT assay and flow cytometric techniques

OBJECTIVES: This study was set out to screen the cytotoxic activity of three extracts of two plants against three cancer cell lines. METHODS: Cytotoxic activity of three extracts of these two plants (Haplophyllum tuberculatum (H) and Sonchus oleraceus L.(S)) was tested against three cell lines: HeLa uterus (H2), A431 skin (A2), and MCF breast (M2) using the MTT assay and the flow cytometric technique in vitro. RESULTS: The results revealed that similar yield percentages were obtained. Extract fractions from the first plant HF3 exerted high effects (>75%) on the three cell lines. The aqueous extract of HF3 exhibited significant (P < 0.001) cell growth inhibition activities estimated as (inhibitory concentration 50 in m/mL) of (0.73 ± 0.08, 0.7566 ± 0.12, and 0.65 ± 0.04) on the HeLa, A431, and MCF7 cells, respectively, compared to standard doxorubicin. CONCLUSIONS: The study concluded that similar yield percentages were obtained. Plant H exhibited higher activity, especially in its aqueous extract. Isolation, identification of the active (s) compounds, and determination of the mechanism of action were highly required.