Cytotoxic effect of Zataria multiflora on cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) and normal fibroblast cells

Abstract. In this study, cytotoxic effects caused by Zataria multifloraessential oil, an Iranian species of family of Laminaceae, in human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) and human fibroblast cells was investigated. The HeLa cells were seeded in 96-well culture plates in the presence and absence of different concentrations of Z. multifloraessential oil(0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 µg/ml)for 24, 48 and 72 hours using MTT assay. Results showed thatessential oil of Z. multiflorashowed strong inhibitory effects on HeLa cells when compared to control. The cytotoxicity effect after 72h incubation was greater than 24 and 48h and the highest cytotoxicity of Z. multifloraessential oil was related to 400 μg/ml (100.08%) . Also results showed that more effect of Z. multifloraessenceon the growth inhibitory of normal fibroblast cell was observed at 100 μg/ml after 48h (98.82%).