Comparison of Achillea wilhelmsii, Silybum marianumseed, Echinacea purpurea, Adiantum capillus-veneris and apricot kernel extracts effects on the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of different herbal medicines ( Achillea wilhelmsii , Silybum marianum seed, Echinacea purpurea , Adiantum capillus-veneris and apricot kernel) against breast cancer cells (Mcf-7). Material and method: For this purpose, the plants were dried and milled, then, soaked in 70% ethanol for 72 hours and their extracts were extracted using a rotary evaporator.Different concentrations of herbal extracts (12.5, 25, 50 and 100 μ g/ml) were added to the cancer cell culture medium and their cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects were investigated after 24h by MTT assay and acridine orange - ethidium bromide staining, respectively.Data was analyzed by SPSS software at the significant level of 5%. Results: Addition of the highestconcentration of all extracts to the culture mediumshowed the most significant anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects (P<0.05) compared to other concentrations of the same extracts.Also, among the high concentrations (100μg/ml), the highest cell cytotoxicity effects were related to the extracts of Echinacea purpurea and Adiantum capillus-veneris (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the addition of Echinacea purpurea and Adiantum capillus-veneris extractsto the cell culturesin high concentrationshad the most significant anti proliferative and apoptotic effects on breast cancer cells in comparison with other plant extractsand concentrations.