Cytotoxic effects of hydro-alcoholic extracts of cress (Lepidium Sativum) - made from different stages of the plant - on k562 Leukemia cell line

Introduction: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a malignant clonal disorder of hematopoietic stem cells resulting in the increase of myeloid cells, erythroid cells and platelets in the peripheral blood and hyperplasia in bone marrow. The research evaluated the cytotoxic effects of hydro-alcoholic extracts of Lepidium Sativum (Cress plant) shoots before and after flowering on K562 cell line as a model of CML. Methods: In this laboratory experimental study, the Lepidium Sativum shoots including stems and leaves of the plant before flowering and its shoots after flowering including stems, leaves and flowers were collected from Afoos city (Iran). They were extracted using maceration (50% Ethanol 96% and 50% water) method. K562 cells were cultured. Then the cells were treated with different concentrations of the extract (12.5-100 &mu;g/ml) at different time intervals (24, 48 and 72 hour). The Lepidium Sativum cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT test method before and after flowering against K562 leukemia cells. The absorption was measured using an ELISA plate reader at 540 nm wave length. Data were analyzed using SPSS15 software and one-way ANOVA test analysis as well as Tukey test where P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Hydro-alcoholic extracts of Lepidium Sativum showed the most optimum cytotoxicity both before and after flowering with a dose of IC50=25 &mu;g/ml and 72 hour after treatment on K562 cell line. In other words, hydro-alcoholic extracts of Lepidium Sativum prepared before and after flowering exhibited a dose and time dependent cytotoxic effect on K562 cell line. Conclusion: Considering the cytotoxic effect of hydro-alcoholic extracts of Lepidium Sativum shoots before and after flowering on K562 cells, the plant can be considered as a potential candidate for further studies on CML treatment.