Oldenlandia diffusa, Cremastra appendiculata and Fritillaria thunbergii are widely distributed in the Korea, China and Japan, and has been used in traditional medicine for various diseases, such as pharyngolaryngitis, tonsillitis, goiter and stomach ulcer. In addition, O. diffusa, C. appendiculata and F. thunbergii are reported to possess many pharmacological activities including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertension, anti-diabetic and anti-cancer effects. However, the anti-cancer activities in human breast cancer have not been clearly elucidated yet. In the present study, In the present study, it was compared the in vitro cytotoxic effects of single and complex treatment of O. diffusa, C. appendiculata and F. thunbergii. It was found that single treatment of O. diffusa and F. thunbergii could inhibit the cell proliferation in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, and single treatment of O. diffusa could inhibit the cell proliferation in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. However, complex treatment of O. diffusa, C. appendiculata and F. thunbergii is weakly or not affect the cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells and MCF-7 cells. The first, anti-proliferative effects of O. diffusa in MDA-MB-231 cells was associated with G2/M arrest of cell cycle and apoptotic cell death. The second, anti-proliferative effects of F. thunbergii in MDA-MB-231 cells was associated with apoptotic cell death. The third, anti-proliferative effects of O. diffusa in MCF-7 cells was associated with G1 arrest of cell cycle. Taken together, these findings suggest that O. diffusa and F. thunbergii may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human breast cancer cells and further studies will be needed to identify the molecular mechanisms.

Keywords: O. diffusa, C. appendiculata, F. thunbergii, human breast cancer cells, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis