Ex vivo cytotoxic activity of Eragrostis Tremula on MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells Via Induction of Apoptosis

Statement of the Problem: Plants have been used for medical purposes since the beginning of human history and are the basis of modern medicine. Most chemotherapeutic medications for malignant growth treatment are atoms recognized and segregated from plants or their manufactured subordinates. Current helpful methodologies that incorporate medical procedure, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are related to antagonistic reactions emerging from the absence of particularity for tumors. Here we show that the methanolic root concentrate of Eragrostis tremula could be a compelling elective enemy of tumor specialist.

Methodology and Theoretical Orientation: Phytochemical screening of the methanolic roots extract by using different biochemical tests confirmed the presence of Phyto-constituents like Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Glycosides, Phenol, Saponin, Steroids/Terpenoids, Tanin, and Cordial glycoside. Ex vivo cytotoxic activities of extracted root on cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines were evaluated by using (3-(4, 5- dimethyl thiazole2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) MTT-based assay and Cychlophophamine(CPY) as control.

Findings: The result of IC50 show selective cytotoxicity on tumors cell line MCF7/CPY (4.68±0.46/0.42±0.01µg/mL). The cytotoxic effect which is dose-dependent was found to be significant. The extract failed to show cytotoxicity on HaCaT/CPY (97.22±0.45/77.3±0.8 µg/mL) cells at the concentration that was cytotoxic to the tumor cell lines, indicating less cytotoxic effects of the extract against human ‘non-cancerous’ cells). Furthermore, Hoechst 33342 staining and DNA fragmentation assays revealed hallmark properties of apoptosis such as membrane blebbing, nuclear condensations, and DNA fragmentation.

Conclusion& significance: Conclusion& Significance: The methanolic root extract of Eragrostis tremula could be an effective alternative as an anti-tumor agent and the specificity index need to be further evaluated with multiple tumor cell lines to establish its universality. Also to be further evaluated is the mechanisms of cytotoxicity.

Keyword: Ex vivo cytotoxic activity Eragrostis Tremula MCF-7 Human Breast cancer

Author(s): Hamidu Ahmed Marafa

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