Antiproliferative Activity of Marrubium persicum Extract in the MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cell Line

Aim: Developing antitumor drugs from natural products is receiving increasing interest worldwide dueto limitations and side effects of therapy strategies for the second leading cause of disease related mortality,cancer.
Methods: The antiproliferative activity of a methanolic extract from the aerial parts of Marrubiumpersicum extract was assessed with the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line using the MTT test for cell viability andcytotoxicity indices. In addition, antioxidant properties of the extract were evaluated by measuring its ability toscavenge free DPPH radicals. Moreover, the total phenolic and flavonoid content of the extract was determinedbased on Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric aluminum chloride methods.
Results: The findings of the study forthe antiproliferative activity of the methanolic extract of M. persicum showed that growth of MCF-7 cells wasinhibited by the extract in a dose and time dependent manner, where a gradual increase of cytotoxicity effect hasbeen achieved setting out on 200 μg/mL concentration of the plant extract. The antioxidant assay revealed thatthe extract was a strong scavenger of DPPH radicals with an RC50 value of 52 μg/mL. The total phenolic andflavonoids content of the plant extract was 409.3 mg gallic acid equivalent and 168.9 mg quercetin equivalentper 100g of dry plant material.
Conclusion: Overall, M. persicum possesses potential antiproliferative andantioxidant activities on the malignant MCF-7 cell line that could be attributed to the high content of phenolicsand flavonoids, and therefore warrants further exploration.