Question

I used LDH assay for cytotoxicity testing. I have a plant extract which I tested against HepG2 cancer cells. I did three trials, my results were 2%, 6%, and 8% cytotoxicity, respectively.

How do I classify these values?

I was wondering if these values are low/mild, moderate, or high cytotoxicity. Someone told me that anything higher than 10% is already highly cytotoxic; however, I cannot find any reference that stated this.

Answer 1

Based on the LDH assay results for cytotoxicity testing of the plant extract on HepG2 cancer cells, the values of 2%, 6%, and 8% fall within the range of low to moderate cytotoxicity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cytotoxicity classification is often context-dependent and can vary based on the cell line, assay method, and specific criteria used. While there is no universally accepted standard for categorizing cytotoxicity, it's essential to consider the specific context of your experiment. In your case, the values of 2%, 6%, and 8% represent the percentage of cytotoxicity observed in three separate trials.

Typically, cytotoxicity is classified into different categories: low, moderate, and high. However, the specific thresholds for these categories can vary. You mentioned a suggestion that anything higher than 10% is considered highly cytotoxic, but without a specific reference, it's crucial to rely on established literature or guidelines.

In your scenario, with values ranging from 2% to 8%, these fall below the suggested 10% threshold for high cytotoxicity. Therefore, based on the available information and the absence of a universally recognized standard, the observed cytotoxicity can be classified as low to moderate. It is advisable to consult relevant literature or guidelines in the field and, if possible, compare your results with studies using similar methods and cell lines to contextualize and validate your findings.