Cytotoxic effect of four herbal medicines on gastric cancer (AGS) cell line

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Therefore, discovery of novel anti-cancer herbal drugs is of importance. Herbal medication is now being used for treatment of various diseases, including cancer in many countries. In this study, the cytotoxic effect of traditional herbal medicines (Aloe vera, Ginger, Ziziphora and Saffron extracts) was investigated on gastric AGS cell line. MTT assay was performed for cytotoxic effect of these herbal medicines. The most cytotoxic effects of Ginger, Ziziphora and Saffron extracts on AGS cell line were 47, 88 and 67%, respectively, compared to control group. According to our data, among these herbal extracts, Ziziphora has the highest cytotoxic effect on AGS cell line. Ziziphora extract seems to be a good candidate as an anti-cancer agent against GC. To clarify the effective molecules and their mechanisms, further studies are undertaken on animal models and humans.