comparison inhibitory effects of methanolic extract of citrullus colocynthis fruit and volatile oils of citrus medica peels on hela cell line

cervical cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer and the second most common cancer in women worldwide. herbal preparations are used to treat cancer for centuries. the aim of this study was investigate the cytotoxic effects of the methanol extract of citrullus colocynthis and volatile oils of iranian c. medica on hela cell line. after preparation extract and volatile oils, different concentrations of volatile oils of c. medica (0.25-10 μg / ml) and extract of citrullus colocynthis (100-1000 μg / ml) were added to hela cultured cells and incubated for 72 hours. cell survival was evaluated using mtt-based cytotoxicity assay. the results showed that methanolic extract of citrullus colocynthis had not significant cytotoxic effect on hela cells but volatile oils of citrus medica had significant cytotoxic effect on this cells and it’s most compounds was limonene , linalool , linalool acetate and beta - pinene. the findings showed that volatile oils of c. medica had more cytotoxic effect than the citrullus colocynthis extract, limonene and linalool of the volatile oil causes this effects.