Cytotoxic effects of ethyl acetate extract of Sambucus ebulus compared with Etoposide on normal and cancer cell lines

Abstract

Sambucus ebulus is a native botany and exists in large amount in Iran and consists of anti-cancer substances such as ebulin (RIP, ribosome inactivated protein), flavonoids, etc. Isolation and identification of some potent anti-tumor compounds from medicinal plants, has motivated researchers to screen different parts of plant species for anti-tumor effects. In previous studies, anti-inflammatory effects of n-hexane and methanolic extracts of S. ebulus, nephro- and hepato-toxic effects of ethyl acetate extract of this plant and evaluation of role of vitamins C and E on prevention of cellular and pathological disorders induced by the ethyl acetate extract was performed and reported [1,2]. So, cytotoxic activity and IC50 of specific concentrations of ethyl acetate extract of fruits of S.ebulus on 4 normal and cancer cell lines was studied. Also, Etoposide, a chemotherapeutic drug was selected as control positive group. The normal cell lines were CHO and rat fibroblast and cancer cell lines were HepG2 and CT26. The ethyl acetate extract was prepared by perculation. The cytotoxic effects and IC50 of the extract on the cell lines were studied followed by MTT assay after 72 hours incubation. The results showed that the ethyl acetate extract of Sambucus ebulus posses lower IC50 in the cancer cell lines in comparison with the normal cell lines. On the other hand, the extract posses higher IC50 in comparison with Etoposide on all 4 normal and cancer cell lines (P<0.05), but it manifested a good cytotoxic compound which can introduce as an anticancer compound.