The Antioxidant and cytotoxic Effects of nettle-leaves (Urtica dioica L.) Ethanolic extract on the A549 cell line

Aim and Among cancers, Lung cancer is considered to be the most important cause of death in worldwide and as the most modern cancer treatments are ineffective with side effects, it seems essential to find impressive alternatives treatment. Nettle plant with the scientific name Urtica dioica L. Of family Urticaceae, is a flowering and Perennial plant that has high nutritional and medicinal value. There fore, the cytotoxic effect of ethanolic extract of nettle leaf (Urtica dioica L.) on A549 cell lines was evaluated.
In this study, for the first time, the cytotoxic effect of ethanolic extract of nettle leaves on A549 cell lines was evaluated. The dioecious nettle leaves in April 2015 of sehezare Tonekabon were collected and studied; Then the antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH0 Assay. A549 cell line in DMEM with 20% fetal bovine serum was grown. Different concentrations of ethanolic extract of two legs nettle leaves (5, 2/5, 1/25 and 0/5 mg/ml) for 24, 48 and 72 hours were applied on cancer cells A549. Next the viability of cells using MTT assay was considered.
In this study, the percent of free radical scavenging DPPH0 equals to 67/79 percent and the amount of IC50 was calculated to be 4/30 mg/ml. The results of MTT assay showed that the ethanolic extract of nettle leaves has a cytotoxic effect on the A549 cell line which is dependent to their doses. Also IC50 of the extract concentration for A549 cells was obtained to be 5 mg/ml. MTT results showed no significant differenc in 48 and 72 hours. But the difference was significant at 24 hours.
The ethanolic extract of nettle leaves which is dose-dependent could destroy the cancer cells and showed cytotoxic properties. Thus, this plant can be used as a medicinal plant against lung cancer in wider scope.