In Vitro Antitumour Activity of Sesamum indicum Linn Flower Extracts

Purpose: To investigate the antitumour activity of Sesamum indicum L.
Methods All the fractions of the ethanol extract of Sesamum indicum L. were obtained by solvent refining technique. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method was used to test the cytotoxicity of the extracts on four different tumour cell lines - Hela, CNE-2, smmc-7721 and Kyse-410. The effect of Sesamum indicum L. on apoptosis and cell cycle of tumour cells was analyzed by flow cytometry.
Results The petroleum benzene fraction and diethyl ether fraction showed significant antitumour activity compared with the control (P<0.05). Typical hypodiploid apoptotic peak was demonstrated in tumour cells treated by petroleum benzene fraction. The diethyl ether fraction evidently influenced the cell cycle of the tumour cells.
Conclusion The petroleum benzene and diethyl ether fractions of Sesamum indicum L. may contain antitumour components. The mechanism of inhibition of tumour cells may be linked to cytotoxic activity and apoptotic induction.