Cytotoxicity of the Methanol Extract of Datura innoxia Petals on MCF-7 and HEK-293 Cell Lines

Background Medicinal plants are traditionally used to prevent and treat various diseases, including cancer. Despite the development of advanced methods of treatment, cancer mortality is still increasing every year. Medicinal plants are one of the most important sources of anticancer agents. Objectives The present study was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of the methanolic extracts of Datura innoxia petals, native to central and South America and distributed in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe, on the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Materials and Methods The petals were collected, cleaned, and powdered. The extraction was conducted using the maceration method and then filtered, centrifuged, freeze-dried, and kept at 4°C. The MCF-7 and HEK-293 cell lines were treated with the methanolic extract of D. innoxia petals at various dilutions. Cell viability was quantitated using the MTT assay after 48 and 72 hours. The methanolic extract of D. innoxia petals showed cytotoxic effects on the MCF-7 cell lines at 48 and 72 hours of incubation but did not affect the non-malignant cell line HEK-293. Conclusions These findings indicate that the methanolic extracts of D. innoxia petals can act as a possible food supplement with anticancer effects and can be used after complementary tests.