Abstract
Background and aims: The 4T1 cells tumor growth and metastatic pattern in BALB/c mice very closely mimic human breast cancer. These herbal remedies used in traditional folk medicine have been the source of many medically beneficial drugs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-proliferative activity of the asafetida, ginseng and fennel ethanolic extracts on mouse breast cancer 4T1 cell line in vitro.
Methods: In this experimental study, asafetida, gensing and fennel were extracted; 4T1 mouse mammary tumor cell line were cultured in 48-well flat bottom plate at density of 50x103 per well in 100µl RPMI-1640 medium. Then, different dilutions of each extract (25, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 2000μg/ml) were added to cell culture. Cells then were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. After 24 h, cell proliferation was determined by the BrdU assay.
Results: Mouse breast cancer 4T1 cell line was incubated with different doses of extracts. After 24h, cell proliferation was determined by the BrdU assay and the dose of 50µg/ml of fennel showed the best inhibitory effect.
Conclusion: Anti-tumor activities of fennel, asafetida and ginseng ethanolic extracts may decrease proliferation activity of 4T1 cell line in vitro. The results suggested that fennel, asafetida and ginseng ethanolic extracts induce apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation in vitro and fennel had the best anti proliferation effect.