Cytotoxicity of Echium amoenum Fisch. et Mey. petals aqueous extract on human glioblastoma cells

Medicinal plants have potentially cytotoxic effects due to their secondary metabolites, and it is important to know their cytotoxicity. Echium amoenum Fisch. et Mey., native to the northern part of Iran, is one of the important medicinal herbs in traditional Iranian medicine. It has large red flowers that turn dark purple after drying, and its decoction has medicinal uses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of aqueous extract of E. amoenum petals on human cells. In this study, the cytotoxic effects of different concentrations of E. amoenum extract on human glioblastoma cells was studied by MTT assay in a completely randomized statistical design with three replications. The results showed that the aqueous extract of this plant with IC50=19.28 mg ml-1 had a cytotoxic effect on human glioblastoma cells. The morphology of the treated cells changed from polygonal to spherical. The results of the present study showed that although the aqueous extract of E. amoenum petals had beneficial effects, it should be used with caution according to the instructions, because as it has a cytotoxic effect on human glioblastoma cells, it may also have a cytotoxic effect on healthy cells.