Fitoterapia. 2000 Feb; 71(1): 50-4.

In vitro cell-toxicity of Peganum harmala alkaloids on cancerous cell-lines.

Lamchouri F, Settaf A, Cherrah Y, Hassar M, Zemzami M, Atif N, Nadori EB, Zaid A, Lyoussi B.

Laboratoire de Pharmacologie et Toxicologie, FacultÃ© de Medecine et de Pharmacie B.P. 6203 Rabat Instituts, Rabat, Morocco.

The alkaloidic fraction of the methanol extract of Peganum harmala seeds was tested in vitro on three tumoral cell-lines: UCP-Med and Med-mek carcinoma, and UCP-Med sarcoma. Proliferation was significantly reduced at all tested concentrations (20-120 micrograms/ml) during the first 24 h of contact. A cell lysis effect occurred after 24 h and increased thereafter to complete cell death within 48-72 h, depending on tested concentration.