Antiproliferative effect of extracts from Aristolochia baetica and Origanum compactum on human breast cancer cell line MCF-7.

Aristolochia baetica L. (Aristolochiaceae) and Origanum compactum Benth. (Lamiaceae) are native plants of Morocco used in traditional medicine. In order to systematically evaluate their potential activity on human breast cancer, four different polarity extracts from each plant were assessed in vitro for their antiproliferative effect on MCF-7 cells. As a result, several extracts of those plants showed potent cell proliferation inhibition on MCF-7 cells. Chloroform extract of A. baetica (IC50: 216.06 +/- 15 microg/mL) and ethyl acetate of O. compactum (IC50: 279.51 +/- 16 microg/mL) were the most active. Thin layer chromatography examination of the bioactive extracts of A. baetica and O. compactum showed the presence of aristolochic acid and betulinic acid, respectively. These results call for further studies of these extracts.