Morteza Eskandani
1,2, Elmira Dadizadeh
3, Hamed Hamishehkar
4, Hossein Nazemiyeh
1,3*, Jaleh Barar
1,3* 
1 Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
2 Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
3 Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
4 Drugs Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Dorema glabrum
(Apiaceae) is a rare and monocarpic species distributed in
Transcaucasia and North West of Iran. We aimed to explore anticancer
potency of bioactive compounds from the seeds of Dorma glabrum.
Methods:
Methanol extract was subjected to phytochemical investigation using
normal phase Sep-pak and reversed-phase HPLC, and cytotoxic effect of
isolated compounds on CAOV-4 cell line was evaluated. Furthermore,
Annexin V/PI staining and comet assay were used to study genotoxicity of
compounds.
Results:
Diglucosyl caffeoyl ester (1), Glucopyranosylcaffeic acid (2) and
skimmin (3), were identified. MTT cytotoxicity assay showed growth
inhibition of CAOV-4 cells due to treatment with compunds (1), (2) and
(3) with an IC50 of 99.7, 87.3 and 70.03 µg/ml at 48 h, respectively.
Annexin V-FITC/PI staining showed occurrence of early/late apoptosis in
the (1)-treated cells, while (2)-and (3)-treated cells necrosis/late
apoptosis was dominant event. Single/double strands DNA breakages were
observed by comet assay in all treatments.
Conclusion: This work provides sufficient information about anti-cancer properties of the diglucosyl caffeoyl ester from the seeds of D. glabrum.