Anahita Naeimi - Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
Majid Tafrihi - Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
Maryam Mohadjerani - Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

Objective: Teucrium persicum is an Iranian endemic plant used in Iranian traditional medicine.Materials and Methods: The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, and antioxidant potential of the methanolic extract of T. persicum were determined. The MTT test was used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of the extract on the viability of A-۳۷۵ cells. The clonogenic, micronucleus formation, and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining methods were used to evaluate the survival and proliferation of A-۳۷۵ cells. Apoptosis was evaluated by using DNA fragmentation assay and measuring the activity of caspase ۳/۷. To study the effect of the extract on the migration of A-۳۷۵ cells, the in vitro wound-healing (scratch) assay was employed.Results: The average total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant properties of the extract were ۶.۹۷±۰.۰۱۱ mg Ellagic acid (EGA)/g, ۴۶.۸۳±۰.۰۰۱۹ mg of the ethoxyquin (۱,۲-dihydro-۶-ethoxy-۲,۲,۴-trimethylquinoline; EQ)/g of dried extract, and ۱۰±۰.۰۰۲ μg/ml, respectively. The IC۵۰ value of the T. persicum methanolic extract was ۱۳ μg/ml for ۴۸ hr. The DNA fragmentation pattern and the activity of caspase۳/۷ suggested that the reduction of the cell viability may be due to apoptosis induction. Microscopic observations showed nuclear condensation, a considerable increase in micronuclei formation, and inhibition of the colony formation in A-۳۷۵ cells treated with ۷ μg/ml to ۱۵ μg/ml of the extract. Wound-healing assay supported the anti-migration activity of the extract.Conclusion: T. persicum has significant antioxidant and cytotoxic properties. Surely, more detailed molecular and biochemical studies are needed to find the mechanism(s) behind these effects.

Teucrium persicum, A-۳۷۵ cells, Antioxidant potential, Cytotoxicity, Caspase ۳/۷, Genotoxicity