Anticancer Activity of Some Potential Indian Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most worldwide health problems which are characterized by the abnormal, uncontrolled cell growth. Recently, cancers are prevented basically through chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery, but it has very harmful side effects and highly expensive. Hence herbal therapy is preferred. newlineThe polar and non polar solvent systems were used for extraction process. In this study, qualitative tests of all plant extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, phenolics, flavonoids and terpenoids. The TLC and HPLC results also supported the presence of bioactive agents. The 100 microgram per ml solution of plant extract were used for testing anticancer activity against Hep2 and HT29 cancer cell lines by using SRB assay. newlineThe 70 percent ethanolic extract of Achyranthes aspera showed 81 and 79.5 percent growth inhibition of cancer cell lines Hep2 and HT29 respectively while petroleum ether extract of Terminalia arjuna showed 78 and 79 percent growth inhibition of cancer cell lines Hep2 and HT29 respectively. The methanolic extract of Phyllanthus emblica indicated 77.75 and 81.6 percent growth inhibition of cancer cell lines Hep2 and HT29 respectively while 40 percent ethanolic extract of Ocimum sanctum showed 77 percent and 73 percent growth inhibition of cancer cell lines Hep2 and HT29 respectively. The 50 percent ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera extract showed 74.75 and 76.5 percent growth inhibition of cancer cell lines Hep2 and HT29 respectively although 70 percent ethanolic extract of Spilanthes acmella showed 77 and 74 percent growth inhibition against Hep2 and HT29 cancer cell lines respectively. The petroleum ether extract of Trigonella foenum graecum showed 78 and 77.75 percent growth inhibition against Hep2 and HT29 cancer cell lines respectively. newlineHence, the key findings of the experiment were showed that these bioactive extracts can be further used in pharmaceutical industries for herbal formulation against cancers. newline newline newline