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Background: The anti-tumor effect of saffron extract has been proved in both in vitro and in vivo in recent years. In this study, cytotoxicity effect of total saffron extract on human liver carsinoma cells (HepG2) investigated in in vitro condition.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, the effects of total saffron extract on quantitative proliferation of all cell lines were determined by using 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2yl) -2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay. Also, effects of extract on mouse fibroblast cells (L929) were evaluated as the control. MTT assay is a fast, sensitive and quantitative method for all kind of cell’s proliferation by spectrophotometry. Amount of required extract for occurring 50% cytotoxicity to the cells (IC 50) was achieved by administering different concentration of extract, and comparing the left alive cells with cells that no drug was used on them.
Results: 50% inhibition of tumor cells growth was achieved at 400 mg/ml. Extract had no inhibitory effect on normal cells growth.
Conclusion: Total saffron extract can be used as cytotoxic agent against Cancer in vivo by producing cytoplasmic and nuclear changes.