The Effects of Petroselinum Crispum on Estrogen Receptor-positive Benign and Malignant Mammary Cells (MCF12A/MCF7)

Background: Phytoestrogens have controversial effects on hormone-dependent tumors. Herein we investigated the effects of parsley root extract (PCE) on DNA synthesis performance, metabolic activity and cytotoxicity in malignant and benign breast cells. Materials and Methods: The PCE was prepared and analyzed by mass spectrometry. MCF7 and MCF12A cells were incubated with various concentrations of PCE and analyzed for DNA synthesis performance, metabolic activity and cytotoxicity by BrdU proliferation, MTT and LDH assays, respectively. Results: PCE was found to contain a substantial ratio of lignans. At a concentration range of 0.01 mu g/ml-100 mu g/ml the LDH assay analysis showed no significant cytotoxicity of PCE in both cell lines. However, at 500 mu g/ml PCE's cytotoxicity was well over 70% of total cell population in both cell lines. According to the BrdU proliferation assay analysis, PCE demonstrated significant DNA synthesis inhibition of up to 80% at concentrations of 10, 50, 100 and 500 mu g/ml in both cell lines. Based on the MTT assay analysis, only at a concentration of 500 mu g/ml, PCE demonstrated a statistically significant inhibition of cellular metabolic activity of 63% in MCF7 and 75% in MCF12A of their respective normal capacity. Conclusion: PCE showed antiproliferative effects in MCF7 and MCF12A cells. Further investigation is required to determine whether this effect can be solely attributed to its phytoestrogens.