Abstract
Background: Alstonia scholaris cultivated in Iraq and known as the million flowers tree. It is well known for its biological activities that relied on its alkaloid-rich content. Meanwhile breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of malignancy-related deaths in female population, therefore a plant-based compounds therapy have been widely studied revealing new medicinal leads for cancer.
Objectives: To investigate and characterize different fraction extracts of Alstonia scholaris, besides evaluating and comparing their cytotoxic effects on human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231).
Method: Alstonia scholaris defatted aerial part’s 85% methanolic Soxhlet extract was evaporated and dried using a rotary evaporator. The crude extract fractionated with petroleum ether and chloroform consecutively. The fractions were analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography/mass/mass spectroscopy (LC/MS/MS), respectively, to investigate and characterize the biologically effective chemical content of each. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5- diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromides) colorimetric assay on MDA-MB 231 cells Human breast cancer was used to assess cellular metabolic array for both petroleum ether and chloroform extracts besides a negative control group (no treatment group)also involved, halved seven concentrations of fractions (2- 0.03125 mg/ml) was used as treatment. The resulting percentage of inhibition was calculated. Reads taken after 24, 48, and 72 hours of incubation with treatment. Statistical significance was measured using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), P < 0.05 was used to indicate statistical significance.
Results: Novel alkaloids were detected in the chloroform fraction (Vallesiachotamine, Vobasine, Ibogaine, and β-caryophyllene), besides two new phytochemicals (25-Dehydrochondrilla sterol, 7-α-Hydroxycam-pesterol). While the petroleum ether fraction was loaded with triterpenes and fatty acids, Lupeol, alpha- and beta-amyrin, Squalene and Phytole was the most important. MTT assay indicated that both fractions significantly (P< 0.05) inhibited cell growth in a concentration/time dependent increasing manner, with the petroleum ether fraction half- maximal inhibitory concentration IC50 in mg/ml = 0.46/24 hrs. and 0.15/48 hrs. On the other hand, 4the chloroform fraction IC50 in mg/ml = 1.05/24hrs. and 0.4/48 hrs., while after 72hrs. of incubation, both fractions exhibited a strong cytotoxic action with an IC50 value lower than 0.03125 mg/ml. In comparison petroleum ether fraction is of higher cytotoxicity in incubation period (24 and 48 hrs.), revealing a significant difference of two extracts.
Conclusion: Alistonia scholaris is abundant in secondary metabolites, its non-alkaloidal compounds exhibiting elevated cytotoxic activity compared to that of alkaloids, though the primary focus has been on the activity of monoterpene alkaloids, presenting a significant new avenue for breast cancer treatment.
| Has the manuscript been published | not published |
|---|---|
| Intend to be published in the IJPS ? | NO |
