The Cytotoxic Effects of Hydro-alcoholic Extract of Cuscuta europaea on Breast Cancer (MCF7) Cells Compared to Epithelial Kidney (Vero) Cells

Studies have shown that Cuscuta family can influence development of cancer cells. It is also important that medicinal plants applied as anticancer extracts do not exert cytotoxic effects on non-cancerous cells. Accordingly, the present study was carried out to determine the cytotoxic effects of hydroalcoholic Cuscuta europaea extract on breast cancer (MCF7) cells compare to and non-cancerous kidney epithelial (Vero) cells. In this experimental study, MCF7 and Vero cells were purchased from Pasteur institute cell bank and divided in to control group and groups exposed to 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/ml of hydroalcoholic Cuscuta europaea extract. 48 hours after exposure, cytotoxic effect of the extract on cell lines was measured using MTT assay method. The data were statistically analyzed between groups using ANOVA. Compared to control group, the exposure to 0.01,0.1,1 and10 mg/ml of hydroalcoholic Cuscuta europaea extract resulted in significant decrease in viability of MCF7 cells (54.47, 55, 44.62 and 4.64 percent, respectively) and Vero cells (58.42, 48.61, 43.14 and 5.35 percent, respectively) (P<0.001). The results of this study showed that although hydroalcoholic Cuscuta europaea extract has cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells but at the same time has cytotoxic effects on non-cancerous cells; according to which, using the extract for breast cancer treatment is not favorable because of its cytotoxic effects on non-cancerous cells.