title: Cytotoxic and immunopotentiating effects of ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa L. seeds.
abstract: In-vitro cytotoxic screening of extracts of Nigella sativa L. seeds (Ranunculaceae) indicated cytotoxicity in the ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) against different classes of cancer cell lines, P388, Molt4, Wehi 164, LL/2, Hep G2, SW620 and J82, as measured by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The ethyl-acetate column chromatographic fraction (CC-5) showed selectivity against Hep G2, Molt4, and LL/2. CC-5 was relatively non-toxic against human umbilical cord endothelial cells at 50 microg/ml. CC-5 had no stimulatory effect on mouse splenocytes as such. CC-5 and water fraction, however, enhanced the proliferative response in the presence of ConA (3 microg/ml), but not LPS (1 and 6 microg/ml). These data indicate that CC-5 possesses a potent cytotoxic effect as well as a potentiating effect on the cellular immune response. The mechanism whereby it produces this needs to be resolved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260, Singapore.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Swamy
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D008934:Mitogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol