title: Anticancer Activity of Chloroform Extract and Sub-fractions of Nepeta deflersiana on Human Breast and Lung Cancer Cells: An In vitro Cytotoxicity Assessment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide. The plant-derived natural products have received considerable attention in recent years due to their diverse pharmacological properties including anticancer effects. Nepeta deflersiana (ND) is used in the folk medicine as antiseptic, carminative, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and for treating rheumatic disorders. However, the anticancer activity of ND chloroform extract has not been explored so far.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was aimed to investigate the anticancer activities of chloroform Nepeta deflersiana extract and various sub-fractions (ND-1-ND-15) of ND against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and human lung cancer cells (A-549).
  
  
  METHODS
  The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and neutral red uptake assays, and cellular morphological alterations using phase contrast light microscope were studied. Cells were exposed with 10-1000 μg/ml of sub-fractions of ND for 24 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that selected sub-fractions of the chloroform extract significantly reduced the cell viability of MCF-7 and A-549 cells, and altered the cellular morphology in a concentration-dependent manner. Among the sub-fractions, ND-10 fraction showed relatively higher cytotoxicity compared to other fractions whereas, ND-1 did not cause any cytotoxicity even at higher concentrations. The A-549 cells were found to be more sensitive to growth inhibition by all the extracts as compared to the MCF-7 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides preliminary screening of anticancer activities of chloroform extract and sub-fractions of ND, which can be further used for the development of a potential therapeutic anticancer agent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nepeta deflersiana extract exhibit cytotoxicity and altered the cellular morphology. Sub-fractions of the chloroform extract of Nepeta deflersiana reduced the cell viability of MCF-7 and A-549 cells. Among the sub-fractions, ND-10 fraction showed relatively higher cytotoxicity. The A-549 cells were found to be more sensitive as compared to the MCF-7 cells. Abbreviations used: MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide; NRU: Neutral red uptake; DMEM: Dulbecco's modified eagle medium; FBS: Fetal bovine serum; PBS: Phosphate buffer saline; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mai M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Oqail
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ebtesam S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Al-Sheddi
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Al-Jeraisy Chair for DNA Research, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Maqsood A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Al-Jeraisy Chair for DNA Research, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Musarrat
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Al-Jeraisy Chair for DNA Research, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulaziz A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Khedhairy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nida N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Farshori
keywords: A-549 cells; MCF-7 cells; Nepeta deflersiana; anticancer; cytotoxicity