Anti-Proliferative Effects of Ocimum basilicum Leaf Aqueous Extract on Colon Cancer Cell Lines and the Expression of Apoptotic Genes

Colon cancer is one of the most diagnosed cancers in the modern world. Chemotherapy is one of the most relevant treatments for colon cancer, but this method of treatment has severe and sometimes irreversible side effects. Therefore, alternative treatments with fewer side effects are highly considered. Natural and herbal medicine has been proven to be a great source for these alternative treatment methods.

This study aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects of Ocimum basillicum (OB) leaf aqueous extract on human colon cancer cell lines LS174T and COLO205 and the expression of apoptotic genes.

Methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to assess the cytotoxic effects of our extract on the aforementioned cell lines. The changes in the expression of BAX and BAD were analyzed by qPCR following the treatment of cells with our extract.

The results of the MTT assay indicated that the extract had a cytotoxic effect and could reduce the population of live cancer cells, especially LS174T cells. The expression of BAX and BAD genes showed a significant increase in qPCR analysis in both cell lines, especially in the LS174T cells.

Our results showed that the extract had cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, and pro-apoptotic characteristics on previously mentioned cell lines, especially on the LS 174T cells.