Growth inhibition and apoptosis induction of Scutellaria luteo-coerulea Bornm. & Sint. on leukemia cancer cell lines K562 and HL-60

OBJECTIVE: Scutellaria (Lamiaceae) has been implicated for medicinal purposes both in modern and traditional medicine. Some species of the genus Scutellaria has extensively been studied for anticancer activity. Scutellaria luteo-coerulea (S. luteo-coerulea) is one of the Iranian species of the genus Scutellaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, cytotoxic and apoptogenic properties of CH(2)Cl(2), EtOAc, n-BuOH, and H(2)O fractions of S. luteo-coerulea were investigated on K562. Moreover, HL-60. DNA fragmentation in apoptotic cells were determined by propidium iodide (PI) staining (sub-G1 peak). RESULTS: Scutellaria luteo-coerulea inhibited the growth of malignant cells in a dose-dependent manner. Among solvent fractions of S. luteo-coerulea, the CH(2)Cl(2) fraction was found to be the most cytotoxic one among others. Sub-G1 peak in flow cytometry histogram of treated cells suggested the induction of apoptosis in S. luteo-coerulea. CONCLUSION: Scutellaria luteo-coerulea could be a novel candidate for further analytical elucidation in respect to fine major components responsible for the cytotoxic effect of the plant also clinical evaluations.