title: Cytotoxic and apoptogenic effects ofBryonia asperaroot extract against Hela and HN-5 cancer cell lines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bryonia aspera(Stev. ex Ledeb) is a plant that grows in northeast of Iran. In the present study, cytotoxic and apoptogenic properties ofB. asperaroot extract was determined against HN-5(head and neck squamous cell carcinoma) and Hela (cervix adenocarcinoma) cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  HN-5 and Hela cell lines were cultured in DMEM medium and incubated with different concentrations ofB. asperaroot extract. Cell viability was quantitated by MTT assay and the optical absorbance was measured at 570 nm (620 nm as the reference) by an ELISA reader, in each experiment. Apoptotic cells were assessed using PI staining of DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry (sub-G1 peak). TheB. asperainhibited 50% growth (IC50) of Hela and HN-5 cell lines at 100±28 μg/ml and 12.5±4 μg/ml, respectively after 48 hr of incubation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cell viability assay showed that inhibitory effects ofB. asperawere time and dose-dependent in both cell lines, which were consistent with morphological changes, observed under light microscope. Apoptosis was investigated by flow cytometry in which percentage of apoptotic cells increased in a dose and time-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our data,B. asperahas cytotoxic effects in which apoptosis played an important role. Further evaluations are needed to assess the possible anti-tumor properties of this plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Solmaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pourgonabadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, 193953697- Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Sadegh
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Amiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Medical Toxicology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Hadi
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mousavi
keywords: Apoptosis; Bryonia aspera; Cancer; Cytotoxicity