Cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of methanolic flower extract from Gentiana asclepiadea on COS 1 cells.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess whether a methanol extract isolated from the flower of Gentiana asclepiadea had potential cytotoxic or genotoxic effect on COS 1 (monkey kidney) cell line. Five various concentrations of the extract were investigated for cytotoxicity and genotoxicity and to determine non-cytotoxic and non-genotoxic concentrations suitable for utilization in pharmacology and medicine.

METHODS

Cytotoxicity was determined using the proliferation (growth activity) and the plating efficiency (colony forming ability) assays after 24 hour incubation of COS 1 cells with different concentrations of methanolic flower extract from G. asclepiadea. To assess potential genotoxicity, the comet assay or SCGE (Single-Cell Gel Electrophoresis) was used.

RESULTS

We found that only the highest (5 and 25 mg/ml) concentrations of the extract revealed cytotoxic and genotoxic effect. We have also determined concentrations that stimulated cell growth (0.25 mg/ml) and colony forming ability (0.25-2.5 mg/ml) and did not exhibit genotoxic effect (0.25-2.5 mg/ml).

CONCLUSIONS

We found out that extract of G. asclepiadea was neither cytotoxic nor genotoxic in a wide range of concentrations (0.25-2.5 mg/ml) and thus can be used to further investigate potential beneficial usage in pharmacology and medicine.