A study of cytotoxic effect of Iraqi fenugreek seeds alkaloids extract on some cancer cell line.

Abstract

The inhibitory activity of total alkaloids of Iraqi fenugreek extract on cancer cells was evaluated and its cytotoxicity on different cancer cell lines was measured.
Alkaloids were extracted from the seed, which contain the main active constituent, by organic solvent. The crude extract was purified and the total alkaloids were obtained. Detection and identification of purified extract were carried out by using many assays.
Cytotoxic effects of different concentration (62.5, 125, 250, 500, 1000 μg/ml) of fenugreek alkaloids on two cell line (RD, REF) cancer line was studied after 24h,48h and 72h of exposure to the alkaloids extract. It was found that there was a significant cytotoxic effect on this line at concentration (1000μg/ml) after 24hr of exposure while no significant effect seen in other concentration used in the study. Similarly it found after 72hr a significant effect could be detected at high concentration (1000μg/ml).No significant cytotoxicity after 48hr of exposure for all concentration used could be seen. On REF cancer cell line no significant cytotoxic effect could be seen after 24hr of exposure even that there is a slight none, significant effect in some concentration. After 48hr
only at high concentration (1000μg/ml) a significant effect was seen. All concentration used have no cytotoxic effect after 72hr of exposure. So we can
conclude that fenugreek alkaloids have a cytotoxic effect on different cancer cell line which differs in potency from cell line to other and different exposure times.