Anti-Cancer and Neuro-Protective effect of Cuminum cyminum extracts on IMR32 Human Neuroblastoma Cell Lines

Since time immemorial, Cuminum cyminum seeds have been famous for their integral role that they have played in the indian diet. They have been shown to have neuro-protective activity. The present study was done to evaluate the neuroprotective action of C.cyminum seed against Tri-methyltin (TMT- organotin) induced toxicity, in IMR32, a human neuroblastoma cell line. TMT is known for its hippocampal specific neurotoxic effects. Preliminary phytochemical analysis was carried out for the aqueous, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate fractions of the extract which were then subjected for cytotoxic studies. The assessment of cytotoxic protection by ethyl acetate, aqueous and petroleum ether fractions of the seeds against TMT induced toxicity was done using MTT cell viability assay. Results showed that it conferred no protection against the neurotoxic cell death. However, an interesting finding from this study was that on treating the IMR32 human neuroblastoma cells with extracts alone in varying concentrations (10ug/ml, 25ug/ml and 50ug/ml), they ethyl acetate fraction showed the potential to induce differentiation of neuroblastoma cells. Therapy for neuroblastoma heavily relies on the ability of the drug to cause differentiation in the cells, curbing the proliferation and metastasis of the cells. Thus, further exploration of the extract can lead to a potent anti-cancer agent against human neuroblastoma cells.