The Antiproliferative Activity of Colchicum umbrosum Plant Extract and Paclitaxel on C-4 I and Vero Cells

DOI: 10.26650/EurJBiol.2018.0016 Objective: This study was conducted to determine the antiproliferative effects of paclitaxel (PAC) and Colchicum umbrosum plant extract on C-4 I and Vero cells. In addition, the apoptotic effects of plant extract on these cells were compared. Materials and Methods: C-4 I and Vero cells were treated with PAC and corm extract of C. umbrosum for 24 h. The antiproliferative effects of 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/mL of plant extract and 7.5, 15, and 30 nM of PAC and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were determined by the MTT method. Morphological changes occurring in the C-4 I and Vero cells were observed under phase-contrast and fluorescence microscopes using DAPI staining. Results: The IC50 values were found to be 0.01 mg/mL in C-4 I cells and 1 mg/mL in Vero cells for the plant extract and 15 nM in C-4 I and Vero cells for PAC. The apoptotic index (AI) values of the experimental groups of C-4 I and Vero cells were significantly increased compared to those of the control group (p<0.01) after treatment with IC50 concentration of the plant extract. The AI values of the plant extract treatment in C-4 I cells were higher than those in Vero cells at 24 and 48 h. Conclusion: Treatment with the IC50 concentration of the plant extract induced apoptotic cell death in C-4 I cells. It can worth be considered as a novel promising candidate for the treatment of cancer.