ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF Artemisia vulgaris ON HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA (HEPG2) CELLS

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth leading cancer causing death worldwide. Currently research focuses on the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of cancer, due to its resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Objective: The present study pertains to the use of Artemisia vulgaris as a source of anticancer agent. The methanolic extract of the leaves were tested in vitro against HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) cells for their apoptotic properties in synergism with a standard chemotherapeutic drug, etoposide. Methods: Viability of the cells was assessed by various concentrations of the extract using MTT. Cytotoxicity was assessed by the LDH assay and mechanism of cell death was studied by morphological (Giemsa) and various nuclear staining methods (EtBr, PI and DAPI). Results: The IC50 value was found to be around 0.1mg as determined by MTT assay. LDH cytotoxicity assay showed A. vulgaris leaf extract to be toxic against the cancer cells, which was further proved by the staining methods. Conclusion: The results indicated the potential use of Artemisia vulgaris leaf extract as a source of chemotherapeutic substances.