Antiproliferative effects of some medicinal plants on HeLa cells

Medicinal plants maintain the health and vitality of individuals, and also have potential curative effect on various diseases, including cancer. In this study were investigated the antiproliferative effects of water extracts of previously obtained ethanolic dry extracts of three different medicinal plants (Echinacea angustifolia, Salvia officinalis and Melissa officinalis) on cell lines derived from human cervix adenocarcinoma (HeLa cells). The best cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 43.52 μg/ml) on HeLa cell lines was exhibited by Echinacea angustifolia. The extract of Salvia officinalis also showed a good cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell lines; the IC50 value was 70.41 μg/ml. Melissa officinalis manifested a slightly weaker cytotoxic activity and an IC50 value of 122.22 μg/ml. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 34021 i br. 175011]