Crocus Officinalis (L.) Extract on Human Colerectal Cancer Cell Line (HT-22): Investigation in Vitro

Crocus sativus L. has been used as spice, food colouring and medicinal plant for thousands of years. In this study, antioxidant properties and cytotoxic effect of saffron extract were evaluated in HT-22 cell lines. Malignant and non-malignant cells (L929) were cultured in DMEM medium and incubated with different concentrations of saffron extract in different solvents (water, ethanol, ethyl-acetate, n-hexane). Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Antioxidant parameters such as DPPH, FRAP, total polyphenol and flavonoid amounts were measured. The highest DPPH value was found as 15.90±0.12 µg/mL in ethyl acetate solvent. Total polyphenols were 89.06±0.02 mg GAE/g extract, flavonoids were 76.98±2.08 µg QE/g extract and FRAP was 67.93±0.98 mg/g extract in ethanol solvent. In colon cancer, IC50 value 94±1.37 µg/mL was found to be the highest value. This is thought to be due to the high antioxidant capacity in ethanol solvent. While antioxidant capacity was not found to be high, antiproliferation effect was found to be high. Saffron may also be considered as a promising chemotherapeutic agent in cancer treatment in the future.