Induction of Apoptosis in MCF-7 Cell Lines by Various Ethanol Extracts

Abstract

Cancer is most dreadful disease despite of advanced medicine and treatment options. Breast cancer is one of those cancers that affect most of female patients. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy and other conventional treatment options are effective but have significant side effects and sometimes ineffective too. Thus focus was kept on discovering the alternative sources of treatment and thus herbs posed themselves as best alternatives in terms of safety and effectiveness.  In this research ethanol extracts of Yams of Dioscoreavillosa, leaves of Occimumgratissimum and Annonamuricata were investigated for their anti-proliferative activity invitroagainst MCF-7 cell lines using MTT assay. The results showed that extracts had a cytotoxic activity in a dose dependent manner and Dioscorea showed a potent activity with IC-50 of nearly 35 µg/ml. The extracts were also investigated for apoptosis inducing activity against MCF-7 cell lines using flow cytometer. Results suggest that the extracts were effective in induction of apoptosis in cell lines and the extract of Annona was proven best in apoptosis induction. Overall it was proven that the extracts can lead to active principle that can be considered as potential candidates for treatment of breast cancer.