Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of different extracts of Artemisia biennis Willd. on K562 and HL-60 cell lines

Abstract

<strong><em>Objective(s)</em></strong>: <em>Artemisia </em>is a genus of herbs and small shrubs forms an important part of natural vegetation in Iran. It has been reported that several <em>Artemisia</em> species possess anti-proliferative effects. Considering the value of this genus in anti-cancer researches we have chosen <em>Artemisia biennis</em> for cytotoxic and mechanistic studies.<br /> <strong><em>Materials and Methods:</em></strong>In this study we have investigated the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and ethanol:water (1:1 v/v) extracts of <em>A. biennis </em>Willd. on two cancer human cell lines (K562 and HL-60) and J774 as normal cells.<br /> <strong><em>Results: </em></strong>CH₂Cl₂ extract was found to have the highest anti-proliferative effect on cancer cells. IC₅₀ values obtained in AlamarBlue^® assay for CH₂Cl₂extract were 64.86 and 54.31 µg/ml on K562 and HL-60 cells respectively. In flow cytometry histogram of the cells treated with CH₂Cl₂ extract, sub<strong>-</strong>G1 peak was induced. DNA fragmentation, increased in the level of Bax and cleavage of PARP protein all showed the induction of apoptosis with CH₂Cl₂ extract after 48 hr contact with cells.<br /> <strong><em>Conclusion: </em></strong>The results can corroborate the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of the CH₂Cl₂ extract of <em>A. biennis </em>on the K562 and HL-60 cancer cell lines.