Cytotoxicity and apoptosis assay of novel cyclomyrsinol diterpenes against breast cancer cell lines

Background: Cyclomyrsinane diterpenes especially those extracted from various Euphorbia species have shown interesting biological properties in recent years. Because of the high prevalence of breast cancer and the challenges ahead in its treatment, the use of these compounds as potential anti cancer agents seem reasonable. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of some myrsinane type diterpenoids extracted from Euphorbia sogdiana Popov and determine their induced cell death mechanism. Methods: MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of six various myrsinane compounds on MCF 7 and 4T1 breast cancer cell lines. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were used as the normal cell line too. The apoptotic effects of the structure with the most cytotoxic effects were determined using flow cytometry assay in IC50 concentration for 24 h of incubation. Results: Compound (6) showed the most cytotoxic effects with IC50 of about 8 ± 4 and 24 ± 4 μg/mL for MCF 7 and 4T1 cell lines, respectively. Furthermore, the cells treated with 5 and 10 μg/mL of compound (6) for 24 h, showed 37 and 55% of apoptotic cells. Conclusions: These surveyed compounds have the potential to be considered as useful anti-breast cancer agents due to the great cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects against these cancer cells and the fact that there was no significant cytotoxicity on normal cells.