Antimutagenicity and Anticancer Effects of Biebersteinia multifida DC

Aims: The purpose of this research is to examine antimutagenicity and anticancer effect of Biebersteinia multifida.
Study Design: Currently cancer is considered as one of the main factors of mortality globally. Many chemicals in our environment can cause genetic mutations and are potentially responsible for millions of cancer-related deaths. Nowadays the scientists are looking for food materials which can potentially prevent the cancer occurrence.
Place and Duration of Study: Biebersteinia multifida DC. dried roots were purchased from local market in Tehran bazar, the center of Tehran province, Iran, between June 2012 and January 2013.
Methodology: In this study human leukemia pre B-cells (Nalm-6) were cultured in RPMI 1640 [Sigma], supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), penicillin -streptomycin and L-glutamine. The cultures were incubated at 37ºC, 5% CO2 and then inhibitory effect of ethanolic extract on their proliferation was measured by MTT assay. The ethanolic extract was evaluated in terms of antimutagenicity properties by a standard reverse mutation assay (Ames Test). This was performed with histidine auxotroph strain of Salmonella typhimurium (TA100).Thus, it requires histidine from a foreign supply to ensure its growth. The aforementioned strain gives rise to reverted colonies when expose to carcinogen substance (Sodium Azide).
Results: The ethanolic extract prevented the reverted mutations and the hindrance percent 51.2% in antimutagenicity test. During MTT, human leukemia pre B-cells revealed to have a meaningful cell death when compared with controls (P = .01).
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the antimutagenicity effect of Biebersteinia multifida DC, and suggests that it may be potentially usefull as anticancer agent.