Assessment of the cyto-toxicity of bethlehem star (Ornithogalum umbellatum)‎ to HepG2 cell line and antidotal virtues of milk thistle (Silybum marianum)‎

Abstract EN

Intoxication of animals in Palestinian ranges represents a major problem and needs an objective assessment for prevention as well as treatment.

Bethlehem Star plant (Ornithogalum umbellatum) is assayed in this study for toxicity to HepG2 hepatic cell line using the cellular viability test, MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide].

Among the several doses applied, toxicity is demonstrated to start at around 0.125 mg of the plant extract/ml of HepG2 culture medium.

Toxicity increases in a directly-proportional manner as the plant dose increases (up to 4 mg/ml).

Astonishingly, Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) classically reviewed and used as an antidote plant is demonstrated in this paper to manifest a toxicity profile parallel to that of Bethlehem Star (Ornithogalum umbellatum).

Milk Thistle shows 50% viability of HepG2 cells at an approximate dose of 1.5 mg of plant extract/ml of HepG2 cell line culture medium.

This concentration is applied in parallel to 4 mg of Bethlehem Star (Ornithogalum umbellatum)/ml of HepG2 cell line medium in order to look for antidotal virtues of Milk Thistle.

At these concentrations, the antidotal virtues of Milk Thistle cannot be demonstrated.

The used plant concentrations of Bethlehem Star (Ornithogalum umbellatum) showed a toxicity profile similar to that of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum).

The later plant, surprisingly, failed to manifest antidotal virtues.

However, this study can be used for future investigations of adjusting the appropriate doses of Milk Thistle to be used in case of intoxication of animals and possibly humans.