Cytotoxic Effect of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn Extract against MCF7 and Iraqi AMJ13 Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

Medicinal plants today play a vital role in cancer therapy and herbs have been used worldwide as a potent adjuvant treatment. This study aimed to examine the cytotoxic activity of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. The chloroform extract of S. marianum was examined alone and with doxorubicin for
cytotoxic effect tagainst two cancer cell lines (MCF7 and AMJ13) while the REF cell line was used as normal cell line. Cell proliferation inhibition was evaluated using the MTT assay. Chloroform extract expressed a cytotoxic activity against MCF7 and AMJ13 cells and less growth inhibition on REF cell line in a
dose dependent manner. Calculated IC50was 34.69 μg/mL, 23.88 μg/mL, and 63.12 μg/mL, respectively.
Combination of chloroform extract with doxorubicin describes a synergism (CI < 1). Chloroform extract
has a good cytotoxic activity against MCF7 and AMJ13 cell lines and less growth inhibition on REF cell
line.