The cytotoxic activity of the extracts obtained from roots and the aerial parts of Centaurea cadmea Boiss. (Asteraceae) were analyzed by celi proliferation assay using WST-1 reagent against tliree human cancer celi lines; HeLa, A549 and U20S and one non-cancer celi line; 293HEK. The chlorofonn extract of the aerial parts of the plant exhibited inhibitory activities against ali celi lines (IC50: 14.24-43.10 |xg/mL). The antibacterial activity of the extracts were tested against four gram negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 23999, Pseudomonas aemginosa ATCC 27853, Salmonella typhimurium CCM 5445 and Klebsiella pnemnoniae CCM 2318 and four gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538/P, S. epidennidis ATCC 12228, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and Bacillus cereus ATCC 7064) bacteria strains by broth dilution method. The chlorofonn extract of the aerial parts of the plant showed strong activity on E. faecalis (8 pg/ inL) andB. cereus (16 pg/inL).
Keywords: Centaurea cadmea, Antibacterial activity, Cytotoxic activity.