<em>In vitro</em> cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of <em>Allium paradoxum</em> (M. Bieb.) G. Don extract on human breast cancer cell line

247-254Researchers from all pharmaceutical fields are trying to find new drugs from natural origin with less toxicity. In northern Hyrcanian forests Iran, Allium paradoxum (M. Bieb.) G. Don has traditionally used as food and vegetable. Previously studies reports, this plant has a medicinal potential for anti-oxidant and anti-hemolytic activities. In this regard, we evaluated the anti-tumor activity of hydroalcoholic extract of A. paradoxum (M. Bieb.) G. Don in different concentrations on human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). MTT assay was performed with MCF-7 cancer cell line and also evaluation of apoptotic effect, Bax and Bcl-2 expression in MCF7 cells were analyzed by real time RT-PCR. The results showed that the A. paradoxum (M. Bieb.) G. Don extracts decrease the viability of MCF-7 cell line in a dose-dependent manner and the most effective concentration of this extracts after 24 h treatment was 100 μM. Apoptosis induction was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and plant extracts display a pro-apoptotic effect by down-regulated and up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and BAX in tumor cells, respectively. In conclusion, the study was confirmed pro-apoptotic and cytotoxicity effect of A. paradoxum (M. Bieb.) G. Don extract against MCF-7 cell lines. Based on being natural, low cost, accessibility, and noteworthy advantages of this product, it seems that A. paradoxum (M. Bieb.) G. Don has a potential source for isolation of novel anticancer agents for a drug