Abstract

Cervical cancer is the second main cause of cancer leading death in women. Therefore, targeting it, preferably with natural compounds derived from medicinal plant such as Polygonum avicular as an herbal extract have astringent properties. Herbal medicines in all regions of the developing world are widely used. Unlike the heavy use, there are very little information about the health and efficiency of the treatment by these plants. On the other hand, it’s proven that the relationship between apoptosis and cancer has been increased. In the present study the induction of apoptosis as well as its proliferation effects of polygonum avicular extract on Hela-S cervical cancer cell line has been investigated. First, total extract of Polygonum avicular was prepared by n-hexane, methanol and dichloromethane. Then cytotoxic effect of methanolic phase was studied on Hela-S cervical cancer cell line with 12, 24 and 48 h MTT assays. Finally, after determination of IC₅₀, cells were treated with methanolic extract and Hoechest staning assay was done to measure the amount of apoptosis by the extract. Data analysis showed that methanolic extract of Polygonum avicular has dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on Hela-S cervical cancer cell line with IC₅₀= 0.27±0.07 -0.41±0.02 mg/ml and the extract causes apoptosis with time-dependent manner. In conclusion, methanolic extract of polygonum avicular has cytotoxic and apoptotic effect on Hela-S cervical cell line and may be exploited as potential source for developing novel drugs against cervical cancer.

Key words: Cervical cancer, polygonum avicular, Hela-S cervical cancer cell line, apoptosis.