Cytotoxic Effect of Aqueous and Alcoholic Extracts of Pterocarya fraxinifolia Leaves on K562 Cell Line

Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a malignant clonal disorder of hematopoietic stem cells which results in increase of myeloid cells, erythroid cells and platelets in the peripheral blood and hyperplasia in bone marrow. Pterocarya fraxinifolia; (Juglandaceae) is widely distributed in northern area of Iran. The research evaluates the cytotoxic effect of n-butanol fraction, aqueous, methanolic and ethanolic extracts of P. fraxinifolia leaves on K562 cell line as a model of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Materials and Methods: Leaves of P. fraxinifolia collected from Astara city and extraction using soxhlet method. K562 cells were cultured and treated with concentrations of extracts (12.5-400 µg/ml). Cytotoxicity of P. fraxinifolia extracts against K562 leukemia cells was estimated by the MTT test method. The absorbance was measured using an ELISA plate reader at 540 nm.

Results: Ethanolic extract showed the highest cytotoxic effect (IC₅₀=148.66±11.64 µg/ml) whereas n-butanol fraction extract were least cytotoxic effect (IC₅₀=248.97±6.71 µg/ml) among the extracts. Aqueous and methanol extracts showed the cytotoxic effect with the IC₅₀=183.14±4.71 and 226.02±6.08 µg/ml on K562 cell line. Both ethanolic and n-butanol fraction extracts exhibited a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on K562 cell line.

Conclusions: Considering the cytotoxic effects aqueous and alcoholic extracts of P. fraxinifolia leaves on K562 cells, the plant can be considered as a potential candidate for further studies on CML treatment.