The cytotoxic effect of endemic Centaurea fenzlii Reichardt on colon cancer cell lines

Being the largest genus of the Compositae family with over 169 species and 199 taxons, Centaurea L. has been used in folklore for the treatment of wide range of diseases in Turkey. The antitumor activities of the Centaurea species in different types of cancer have been identified through several bioactivity studies. However, the in vitro anticancer activity of endemic Centaurea fenzlii Reichardt. has never been evaluated and published yet. In this study, the cytotoxic effect of this plant was tested in vitro against Caco-2 (human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma) cells by using MTT, and ATP assays. For the positive control, the cells were treated with the chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil which has been widely used in the treatment of a range of cancers. The aerial parts of the plants were collected during the flowering period and the extracts were obtained with n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol, respectively. The extracts were applied to Caco-2 cell lines at increasing doses. The IC₅₀ values of samples were determined and their direct cytotoxic effects were measured. The extracts displayed noteworthy cell growth and proliferation inhibitory activity. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect of crude dichloromethane extract on Caco-2 cell lines was the highest compared to other extracts. This cytotoxicity screen has provided important preliminary data promoting the selection of the plant species and their different extracts with potential antitumor properties for a therapeutic option in colon cancer.