Cytotoxic and Anticancer studies of Rutin, Ascorbic acid, Menindione combination on normal and cancerous cell lines

Abstract

Rutin is a flavanoid with many biological activities including antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and ant carcinogenic properties. Rutin along with Vitamin C and K combination are used as neutraceuticals in the treatment of Cancer, Haemorrhoids, Vit K deficiency, varicose veins, Wound healing, Scurvy e.t.c. The present study evaluates the anticancer effect of Rutin, Ascorbic acid and Menindione (RAM) combination against two cell lines, one cancer and one normal cell line using Hep G2 (Human liver carcinoma cells) and L929 (fibroblast) cells by MTT assay. Morphological changes after exposure with RAM were studied under phase contrast microscope in a dose dependent manner. RAM shows an IC 50 value of 47.99 µg/ml against Hep G2 and 23.612 against L929 respectively. This shows that the combination is more cytotoxic than promising anticancer activity which is contrary to the beneficial effects claimed by these formulations.