Abstract
Aim: Urtica Urens is expected to produce effective results in reducing cancer cell growth as it exhibits anti-oxidant properties. The present study aims to investigate the effect of Urtica Urens on A549 lung cancer cell line.
Material and Methods: Leaves of Urtica Urens were obtained from a local market and its freeze-dried mixture was stored at -20 degrees C. A549 lung cancer cells were incubated with either 5 or 10 mu g/ml of aqueous extract of dried leaves or freeze-dried leaves preparations of Urtica Urens for 24 hours. The obtained data were analyzed using Graph Pad Prism software version 6.
Results: The freeze-dried Urtica Urens showed a significant rise in late apoptosis phase and necrosis, respectively, as compared to the use of 5 mu g/ml of aqueous extract of dried and the freeze-dried Urtica Urens. The cells were arresting either in G0/G1 phase (in freeze-dried leaves extract) or in G2/M phase (in dried leaves extract), under 10 mu g/ml concentration.
Discussion: Urtica Urens was significantly producing more cellular and mitochondrial ROS, as compared to the untreated A549 cells control. The study concluded that cytotoxic effects are produced by dried extracts of Urtica Urens leaves on cancer cell lines, under certain concentrations.