Kelussia odoratissima potentiates cytotoxic effects of radiation in HeLa cancer cell line

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in women throughout the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of Kelussia odoratissima (K. odoratissima) extract associated with radiotherapy in cervical cancer cells (HeLa cell line). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different concentration of the extract (25-500µg/ml) was tested in HeLa cell lines. Cell cytotoxicity of the extract and the effects of the extract on radiation (2Gy/min)-induced damages were assessed by MTT assay. Apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometric analysis. RESULT: K. odoratissima decreased cell viability in HeLa cell line in a concentration and time-dependent manner. When compared to the control, K. odoratissima induced a sub-G1 peak in the flow cytometry histogram of treated cells, indicating that apoptotic cell death is involved in K. odoratissima-induced toxicity. It was also shown that K. odoratissima sensitizes cells to radiation-induced toxicity. CONCLUSION: Our result showed the extract increased the radiation effect. This observation may be related to the presence of active compounds such as phthalides and ferulic acid.