en A Toxicological and Phytochemical Study on the Iran’s <i>Ecballium elaterium</i> (L.) A. Rich. فارماكوگنوزی و فارماسيوتيكس Pharmacognosy & Pharmaceutics پژوهشی Research <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> <em>Ecballium elaterium</em> is endemic to the northwestern Iran and its fruit is traditionally used for therapeutic purposes in Iran. The toxicological and phytochemical characteristics of the Iran&rsquo;s<em> Ecballium elaterium </em>have not been investigated so far.<br> <strong>Objective: </strong>Study on some toxicological and phytochemical features of the Iran&rsquo;s<em> Ecballium elaterium</em> fruit 90% ethanol extract.</div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Method:</strong> The antioxidant capacity in the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay and total phenol and flavonoid contents were determined by spectrophotometry. The rutin (phytomyelin) content was measured by HPLC. Moreover, oral and intra-peritoneal LD₅₀ (median lethal dose) after 72 hours of the extract administration in rat were determined by the graphical method of Miller and Tainter. The cytotoxicity against several cancer and non-cancer cell lines was determined by the MTT (mitochondrial tetrazolium) method. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results:</strong> The IC₅₀ (inhibitory concentration 50%) in the DPPH assay was 3.57&plusmn;0.006 mg/mL. The total phenol in terms of mg Gallic acid/0.05 g extract was 17.84&plusmn;0.92. The total flavonoid in terms of mg rutin/0.1 g extract was 33.35 &plusmn; 1.06. The extract contained 1 mg/g rutin. The oral and intra-peritoneal LD₅₀ of the extract were 472 mg/kg and 425 mg/kg respectively. The extract showed strong cytotoxicity in ACHN and ASPC1 cell lines, which was followed by Caco2 and PC12 cells. Non-neoplastic cells were much less affected by the extract in comparison with the cancerous cells.<br> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The extract has low antioxidant activity. The oral and intra-peritoneal toxicities of the extract in the LD₅₀ test are moderate. The extract has considerable selective toxicity against cancer cells.&nbsp;</div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> <em>Ecballium elaterium</em> is endemic to the northwestern Iran and its fruit is traditionally used for therapeutic purposes in Iran. The toxicological and phytochemical characteristics of the Iran&rsquo;s<em> Ecballium elaterium </em>have not been investigated so far.<br> <strong>Objective: </strong>Study on some toxicological and phytochemical features of the Iran&rsquo;s<em> Ecballium elaterium</em> fruit 90% ethanol extract.</div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Method:</strong> The antioxidant capacity in the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay and total phenol and flavonoid contents were determined by spectrophotometry. The rutin (phytomyelin) content was measured by HPLC. Moreover, oral and intra-peritoneal LD₅₀ (median lethal dose) after 72 hours of the extract administration in rat were determined by the graphical method of Miller and Tainter. The cytotoxicity against several cancer and non-cancer cell lines was determined by the MTT (mitochondrial tetrazolium) method. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results:</strong> The IC₅₀ (inhibitory concentration 50%) in the DPPH assay was 3.57&plusmn;0.006 mg/mL. The total phenol in terms of mg Gallic acid/0.05 g extract was 17.84&plusmn;0.92. The total flavonoid in terms of mg rutin/0.1 g extract was 33.35 &plusmn; 1.06. The extract contained 1 mg/g rutin. The oral and intra-peritoneal LD₅₀ of the extract were 472 mg/kg and 425 mg/kg respectively. The extract showed strong cytotoxicity in ACHN and ASPC1 cell lines, which was followed by Caco2 and PC12 cells. Non-neoplastic cells were much less affected by the extract in comparison with the cancerous cells.<br> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The extract has low antioxidant activity. The oral and intra-peritoneal toxicities of the extract in the LD₅₀ test are moderate. The extract has considerable selective toxicity against cancer cells.&nbsp;</div> Ecballium elaterium, Phytochemistry, Toxicity, Toxicology Ecballium elaterium, Phytochemistry, Toxicity, Toxicology 67 76 http://jmp.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-71-30&slc_lang=en&sid=1 S Kianbakht S Kianbakht skianbakht@yahoo.com 100319475328460041040 100319475328460041040 Yes Medicinal Plants Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj, Iran Medicinal Plants Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj, Iran M Ziaee M Ziaee 100319475328460041041 100319475328460041041 No Medicinal Plants Research Center, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran Medicinal Plants Research Center, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran M Momtaz S Momtaz 100319475328460041042 100319475328460041042 No Toxicology and Diseases Group, the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Toxicology and Diseases Group, the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hajiaghaee R R Hajiaghaee 100319475328460041043 100319475328460041043 No Medicinal Plants Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj, Iran Medicinal Plants Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj, Iran