Cytotoxic activity of Scrophularia variegate extract against human prostate and ovarian cancer cell lines: An initial evaluation of antimicrobial properties

Hosseini, Nasrin; Bahadorizadeh, Leyla; Habib, Zahra; Saghafi, Mohammad Mehdi; Mozooni, Mahyar; Minaeian, Sara; Mozooni, Zahra; Shahi, Fariba

doi:10.22034/jcrph.2025.553601.1011

Cytotoxic activity of Scrophularia variegate extract against human prostate and ovarian cancer cell lines: An initial evaluation of antimicrobial properties

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Nasrin Hosseini ¹

Leyla Bahadorizadeh ²

Zahra Habib ³

Mohammad Mehdi Saghafi ⁴

Mahyar Mozooni ⁵

Sara Minaeian ²

Zahra Mozooni ²

Fariba Shahi ⁶

¹ Neurosciences Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

² Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Firoozabadi Clinical Research Development Unit (FACRDU), Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁵ Department of chemistry, Faculty of Basic science, Islamic Azad University-East Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

⁶ Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran

10.22034/jcrph.2025.553601.1011

Abstract

Background and Aims: Species within the genus Scrophularia are recognized in traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory potential. Scrophularia variegata, in particular, has been historically employed for this purpose. This study sought to systematically evaluate the cytotoxic potential of a S. variegate extract against human prostate (PC3) and ovarian (SKOV3) adenocarcinoma cell lines, alongside a preliminary assessment of its antimicrobial activity against clinically relevant resistant strains.
Methods: Cytotoxicity was quantified via the MTT assay following exposure of PC3 and SKOV3 cells to the extract. Antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli was determined using standardized micro-broth dilution and disk diffusion methods.
Results: The S. variegate extract demonstrated a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect on both PC3 and SKOV3 cell lines, significantly reducing cell viability. In contrast, the extract did not exhibit measurable antibacterial activity against the tested resistant bacterial strains at the concentrations employed.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that Scrophularia variegate possesses pronounced cytotoxic activity against two distinct human cancer cell lines in vitro, suggesting its constituents may warrant further investigation as potential anticancer agents. The lack of observed antibacterial activity against resistant pathogens, however, highlights the specificity of its biological effects. Future studies are required to isolate the active cytotoxic compounds and elucidate their mechanisms of action.

Keywords

Scrophularia variegate

Phytochemicals

Cytotoxicity

Prostate cancer

Ovarian cancer

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