CYTOTOXIC AND INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA AND MATRICARIA AUREA EXTRACTS ON METALLOPROTEINASE MATRIX ACTIVITY IN COMPARISON WITH STEROIDAL AND NON STEROIDAL COMPOUNDS IN FIBROSARCOMA CELL LINE CULTURE

Metalloproteinase matrix (MMPs), a family of zinc and calcium dependent enzymes, is produced by a wide range of stromal and inflammatory cells. MMPs are capable of degrading all of the compounds of extra cellular matrix. The role of metalloproteinase matrix in pathophysiology of various inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer is well known. The previous studies have shown that dexamethasone and non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have inhibitory effect on metalloproteinase matrix activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory and cytotoxic effects of glycyrrhiza glabra and matricaria aurea hydroalcoholic extracts on metalloproteinase matrix activity in comparison with diclofenac, piroxicam, and dexamethasone.

Herbal extracts were prepared by percolation method, then gelatin zymography and cellular cytotoxicity methods were employed using fibrosarcoma cell line culture (Wehi 164).

Our results indicated that all drugs and herbal extracts showed dose-dependent reduction in metalloproteinase matrix activity. Herbal extracts showed this effect in higher doses but they had lower cytotoxicity compared to other drugs.

Matricaria aurea extract, as compared to glycyrrhiza glabra, have low toxicity effect (IC50 = 3450 µg/ml) and better inhibitory activity (IC50 = 933.33 µg/ml) upon MMPs. Address: Immunilogy Department, Jondi Shapoor University, Ahvaz.