The Cytotoxicity of the Chloroform and Petroleum Ether Fractional Extracts of Galium verum L. in HepG2 and HT29 Cell Lines

Abstract

Background: Studies on the fractional extracts of Galium verum L. have confirmed their cytotoxicity and anticancer effects on various cancer cell lines. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of Galium verum extracts on liver and colon cancer cell lines. Methods: Colon cancer (HT29) and liver (HepG2) cell lines were randomly divided into the test and control groups and exposed to 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, and 3.125 µg/mL of the extract. MTT assay was used to evaluate the viability of the cells, and the groups were compared in the GraphPad Prism software using Tukey’s post-hoc test. Results: The chloroform fractional extract of Galium verum exerted cytotoxic effects on HT29 at the concentrations of 100 and 50 µg/mL and increased the cell viability of HepG2 cancer cells. On the other hand, the fraction of petroleum ether had cytotoxic effects on HT29 at all the determined concentrations, as well as on HepG2 at the concentration of 3.125 µg/mL. In addition, the treatment of HT29 with various concentrations of the petroleum ether fractional extract and HepG2 treatment with the same extract at the concentration of 3.125 µg/mL significantly decreased cell viability compared to the control group. The IC50 concentration was determined at > 100 µg/mL. Conclusions: According to the results, the fractional extract of petroleum ether had cytotoxic effects on HT29 cancer cells at all the concentrations, while it affected HepG2 cancer cells only at the concentration of 3.125 µg/mL.