) BRINE SHRIMP CYTOXICITY ( به روش ارزيابي سميت سلولي ميگو آب شور )A.TENUIFOLIA LAM( و آشيلا تينويي فوليالام )ACHAILLEA TALAGONICO BOISS ( بررسي اثرات سميت سلولي گياهان آشيلا تالاگونيكا بوييز

Investigation of Cytotoxic Activity for Achillea talagonica and A. Tenuirfolia

Background and purpose: Achillea (Asteraceae) comprises 115 species, which are mainly distributed in Europe, Asia, and North Africa and as introduced plant in the New World. The genus Achillea, generally named Bumadaran in Persian, is well known for medicinal properties such as anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects. Achillea has long been used in traditional medicine for treatment of neuralgia and rheumatic pain. Achillea talagonica and Achillea tenuifolia are two of nineteen herbaceous species growing in north of Iran. In previous studies A. talagonica showed a strong in vivo immunosuppressive activity and A. tenuifolia had an antimicronial effect. Materials and methods : In this study, we examined the cytotoxic activity of the ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous methanol extracts of the aerial parts of these two species using Brine Shrimp Cytotoxicity Assay, which is a well known screening method in order to find the active natural products using Artemia Salina eggs. Berberine hydrochloride used as a positive control (LC50=26µM). Results : The results showed that ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of both plants have a good cytotoxic effect against the larvae of A.salina. The minimum lethal concentrations of aqueous methanol extracts of them are more than 10001tM. EtOAc. extract of A. talagonica is the most effective extract (LC50=413 µM). Conclusion : EtOAc and MeOH extracts of Achillea talagonica and A. tenuifolia show cytotoxic activity on the active larvae of A. salina. High polarity extracts of both species showed low cytotoxic activity.