How does the different concentrations (0 µM, 100 µM, 300 µM, 500 µM, 1000 µM, 2000 µM) of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) affect the number of the viable A-549 NSLC (non-small lung cancer) cells, that are attached to the cell culture plate; in 24, 48 and 72 hours of treatment durations?

摘要

There is a statement that Vitamin C has an anticancer activity. The aim of this extended essay was to search how this effect correlates with the concentrations of ascorbic acid, and how the number of A-549 cells change with the increasing concentrations of ascorbic acid. The research question was, “How does the different concentrations (0 µM, 100 µM, 300 µM, 500 µM, 1000 µM, 2000 µM) of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) affect the number of the viable A-549 NSLC (non-small lung cancer) cells, that are attached to the cell culture plate; in 24, 48 and 72 hours of treatment durations?”udThe hypothesis states that increased concentrations of ascorbic acid will decrease the number of viable A-549 cells. Therefore, the changing concentrations of ascorbic acid was the independent variable and the number of viable A-549 cells was the dependent variable. This research question is investigated in three treatment periods which were 24, 48 and 72 hours.udWhen searching for this effect, trypan blue exclusion assay method was used to count the cells. 0, 100, 300, 500, 1000 and 2000 µM of ascorbic acid were put on the A-549 cells and the effect of it on the cell number are observed for the duration of treatments, 24, 48 and 72 hours. This effect is observed in five trials. udThe results show that there was a significant difference between the mean numbers of A-549 cells as the concentration of the ascorbic acid is increased in the experiment done for 24 hour treatment duration. However there were not significant differences between the mean numbers of A-549 cells as the ascorbic acid concentration is increased in the experiments done for 48 and 72 hours of treatment durations.