Dynamic monitoring of the cytotoxic effects of Cousinia iconica extracts on A549 and RL95-2 cells using the xCELLigence RTCA system

Abstract

Asteraceae family plants have potential anticancer activity. The plants have various pharmacological effects and the effects of Cousinia iconica Hub. - Mor. (Asteraceae) depend on many factors, mainly on the type of cells and dose.  In this study, the cytotoxic effects of the C. iconica were investigated using different tumor cell lines: Non-small lung cancer (A549) and human endometrium carcinoma cell line (RL95-2). For the study, cell viability was determined with MTT assay and the xCELLigence Real‑Time Cell Analyser (RTCA) SP instrument was used. Different concentrations of C. iconica extract and sub-extracts were applied on A549 and RL95-2 cell lines.  The ethyl acetate sub-extract and methanol extract of C. iconica were cytotoxic to RL95-2 cells. According to RTCA results, the IC₅₀ values of ethyl acetate sub-extract 44.82, 60.89, and 55.22 µg/mL and methanol extract 265.52, 250.48, and 246.65 µg/mL, for 24, 48, and 72-h exposure, respectively. Real-time xCELLigence measurements show that RL95-2 cells are more sensitive to ethyl acetate sub-extract than methanol extract. The results show that ethyl acetate sub-extract has a cytotoxic effect on RL95-2 endometrium cancer cells, with low IC₅₀ values close to cisplatin. This study is the known first study to show the cytotoxic effects of C. iconica extracts on both A549 and RL95-2 cell lines.