Efficiency of ß-carbolines Presented in the Seeds of Peganum harmala L. as Antiproliferative Agent Against Breast Cancer Cell Line

Harmaline and harmine, are the major ß-carbolines present in the seeds of the Peganum harmala L. These compounds are known as herbal active principals with potential use in pharmaceutical and medicine. To assess the growth inhibitory effect of phyto-alkaloids, harmaline and harmine, on cancer cell lines. The P. harmala L.’s alkaloids were extracted by acidic/basic extraction method and identified by two methods, Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). breast cancer cell lines, MDA_MB_۲۳۱, were subjected to different concentration (۱–۱۰۰ μg. mL -۱) of the P. harmala extract at different time courses (۲۴h, ۴۸h). Methylthiazol Tetrazolium (MTT) test, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC۵۰) and the morphological changes through optical microscopy were evaluated cell lines, the P. harmala extract decreased cell viability in longer time exposure in a dose dependent manner. The more concentrated extract led to higher motility of MDA-MB-۲۳۱ at ۲۴h.It was observed that ۳۰ μg. mL -۱ is the minimum lethal dose that kills approximately ۵۰% of cells at ۲۴ hours in MDA-MB-۲۳۱ cell line (IC۵۰). The morphological observation ensured the apoptosis nature of P. harmala on cells as their membrane kept intact and no membrane permeabilization was observed. The results revealed that the P. harmala extracts decreased significantly growth rate and cell survival of cancer cell lines. higher growth inhibition of MDA-MB-۲۳۱ cell line by the P. harmala extract was confirmed.

Keywords:

Cell viability , FT-IR , HPLC , Harmine , Harmaline