The effect of hydroalcoholic Ziziphus spina-christi leaf extract on viability of breast cancer cell line (MCF7) and evaluation of Bax and Bcl2 genes expression level

Background: Studies have revealed that the Sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi) leaf has anticancer effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hydroalcoholic Sidr leaf extract on MCF7 cell line viability and evaluation of Bax and Bcl2 genes expression level. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory-experimental study, MCF cells were randomly divided into control group and groups exposed to 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/mL of the Sidr leaf hydroalcoholic extract. The cytotoxic effect of the extract was measured using the MTT assay method. Also, the real-time polymerase chain reaction method was used to evaluate Bax and Bcl2 genes expression levels. Results: Viability of the MCF7 cells did not significantly change in group exposed to 0.001 mg/mL of the extract; however, it was significantly decreased in groups exposed to 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/mL of the extract (P