Therapeutic effects of Epilobium parviflorum Schreb. extract on different cancer cell lines

Objective: While reviewing the literature; we did not encounter any studies that practised the expression of apoptotic genes which is applied to the colon cancer cell line (HT29) and fibroblast cell line (BJ) of Epilobium parviflorum. The aim of this study is to determine the changes in the expression of apoptotic genes when administered to HT29 and BJ cells of Epilobium parviflorum. Method: HT29 and BJ cells were incubated with ethanol, water and hexane extracts of Epilobium parvilorum for 48 and 72 hours at 37°C. After determination of IC50 values, expression of Caspase-3, Bax, Caspase-8 and P53 genes were measured by qRT-PCR method. DNA fragments formed in the late apoptosis phase in cells after extract treatment were determined by TUNEL assay. Results: It was determined from the IC50 values calculated by MTT test, which was performed after application of ethanol, water and hexane extracts of Epilobium parviflorum to cells, that it does not affect the viability of BJ cells. A significant increase was observed in mRNAs levels of Caspase-8 and Bax genes in HT29 cells when ethanol, water and hexane extracts of Epilobium parviflorum were applied. According to the TUNEL test, it was observed that DNA fragmentation was higher in HT29 cells treated with ethanol and water extracts. Conclusion: The IC50 concentration determined after 48 hours incubation of ethanol, water and hexane extracts of Epilobium parviflorum with HT29 cells did not affect the cell viability of BJ cells. These extracts also induced apoptosis in these cells by increasing the expression of Caspase-8 and Caspase-3 genes involved in apoptosis in HT29 cells. As a result of the examination of the flow cytometry method using FACS, a high rate of DNA fragmentation was observed in HT29 cells of ethanol and water extracts of Epilobium parviflorum.