Evaluating the potential cancer chemopreventive efficacy of two different solvent extracts of Seriphidium herba-alba in vitro

Cancer is the second leading cause of death world-wide. One of the most important medical practices of the 21st century is the chemoprevention of cancer. For a long history, it has been accepted that plants could prevent and exert suitable anti-carcinogenic effects for multiple types of cancers. Seriphidium herba-alba family Asteraceae has been used in the folk medicine by many cultures for treatment of various ailments since ancient times. In the current research we were aimed to evaluate the cancer chemopreventive activity of two crude extracts of S. herba-alba, methylene chloride extract and methanol extract on two cell lines: Human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Hep-G2). Assessment of cytotoxicity using methyl thiazole tetrazolium (MTT assay) indicated that both extracts exhibit poor cytotoxicity with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) >20 µg/mL. Assessment of glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) activity (spectrophotometrically) showed statistically significant enhancement of enzyme activity after treatment with three different doses of methylene chloride extract and glutathione (GSH) concentrations were decreased. Analysis of cell mode of death by Ethidium bromide/Acridine orange (EB/AO) staining revealed that the dominant mode of death in MCF-7 cells was apoptosis. Assessment of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelets derived growth factor (PDGF_BB) using ELISA showed that VEGF and PDGF_BB levels were statistically significant decreased. In Conclusion: both extracts may be cancer chemopreventive agents since they had tumor anti-initiating, and anti-promoting activity.