CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF ARTEMISIA ABSINTHIUM EXTRACT ON A2780 CELL LINE (OVARIAN CANCER) AND ALTERATION OF APOPTOTIC GENES EXPRESSION LEVELS

Background & Aims: Ovarian cancer is the third most common cancer in women. Artemisia is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants, and Artemisia absinthium is one of the important species of this genus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cytotoxicity and the ability to induce apoptosis methanolic extract of A. absinthium in A2780 cell line (human ovarian cancer). Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, methanolic extract of A. absinthium was prepared. MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of A. absinthium extract on A2780 cancer cell proliferation and DAPI staining and flow cytometry analysis were used to evaluate the ability to induce apoptosis in treated cells with A. absinthium extract. Changes in "BAX, Caspase 3,9, p53" genes expression were evaluated by Real-time PCR. Quantitative data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA at a significant level of p<0.05. Results: The MTT assay results showed that methanolic extract of A. absinthium, inhibits proliferation of ovarian cancer A2780 cells in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.001***). Morphological observation with DAPI staining and flow cytometry analysis results showed an increased percentage of apoptotic cells. The real-time PCR results showed an increase in the expression of apoptotic genes "BAX, Caspase 3,9, p53" in treatment groups p <0.01**; p<0.001***. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the methanolic extract of A. absinthium inhibits the proliferation of A2780 cancer cells and induces apoptosis in these cells.