Synergistic Effects of Achillea biebersteinii and 5-FU Against Colorectal Cancer Cells

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major reason of cancer-related death, approximately 1.2 million new cases are reported each year in the worldwide and more than half die from the disease. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is the backbone in the clinical treatment of advanced CRC. However, beside the antitumor effect most toxicities attributed to the drug and observed severe side effects. Therefore, novel treatments are still needed. 5-FU-based chemotherapeutic regimens are established as a fundamental standart treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. Antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, spasmolytic, antidiabetic, antiulcer, antitumor, choleretic and hepatoprotective activity, and cytotoxic effects of different Achillea species have been previously reported. A. biebersteinii Afan. (Asteraceae) is a perennial herb, villose, stems erect, simple or branched from the base; 30–60 cm high; leaves up to 10 cm; flowering period, April-May. In this study, antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of A. biebersteinii and it’s combination with 5-FU were analyzed with various methods.