title: Antiproliferative activity and induction of apoptotic by ethanolic extract of Alpinia galanga rhizhome in human breast carcinoma cell line.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the potential of galangal rhizomes to induce cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in the cultured human breast carcinoma cell line, (MCF-7) in compare with the non-malignant (MRC-5) cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both cells were cultured in DMEM medium and treated with galangal rhizomes for three consecutive days. The percentage of apoptotic cells was determined by flow cytometry using Annexin-V fluorescein isothiocyanate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the ethanolic extract of galangal rhizomes decreased cell viability in the malignant cells as a concentration- and time- dependent manner. The IC50 values against MCF-7 were determined at 400.0 ± 11.7 and 170.0 ± 5.9 μg/ml after 48 and 72 h respectively. The morphology of MCF-7 cells treated with the ethanolic extract confirmed the cell proliferation assay results. Alpinia galanga induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, as determined by flow cytometry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that the extract of Alpinia galanga exerts pro-apoptotic effects in a breast cancer-derived cell line and could be considered as a potential chemotherapeutic agent in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran. samarghandians@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samarghandian
authors.forename: Mousa-Al-Reza
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hadjzadeh
authors.forename: Jalil Tavakkol
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Afshari
authors.forename: Mohadeseh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosseini
mesh_terms: D032429:Alpinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts