In vitro cytotoxic activity of seed oil of fenugreek against various cancer cell lines

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2013;14(3):1829-32. doi: 10.7314/apjcp.2013.14.3.1829.

Abstract

In the present study, investigations were carried out to screen the anticancer activities of fenugreek seed oil against cancer cell lines (HEp-2, MCF-7, WISH cells), and a normal cell line (Vero cells). Cytotoxicity was assessed with MTT and NRU assays, and cellular morphological alterations were studied using phase contrast light microscopy. All cells were exposed toi 10-1000 μg/ml of fenugreek seed oil for 24 h. The results show that fenugreek seed oil significantly reduced the cell viability, and altered the cellular morphology in a dose dependent manner. Among the cell lines, HEp-2 cells showed the highest decrease in cell viability, followed by MCF-7, WISH, and Vero cells by MTT and NRU assays. Cell viability at 1000 μg/ml was recorded as 55% in HEp-2 cells, 67% in MCF-7 cells, 75% in WISH cells, and 86% in Vero cells. The present study provides preliminary screening data for fenugreek seed oil pointing to potent cytotoxicity against cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amnion / cytology
  • Amnion / drug effects*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Female
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Plant Oils / pharmacology*
  • Seeds / chemistry*
  • Trigonella / chemistry*
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Plant Oils