Preliminary phytochemical screening, evaluation and comparison of anticancer activity of Ficus gibbosa blume by MTT assay method

Abstract

The present study involves the preliminary phytochemical screening and evaluation of anticancer activity of the whole plant Ficus gibbosa blume. Extraction was carried out using the solvents petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform, ethanol and water. Among this, aqueous and ethanolic extract contains more active constituents, hence selected for the study. MTT assay method (invitro) was used for the evaluation of anti-cancer activity. Hacat and Mcf-7 cell lines were used for the evaluation. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, carbohydrates and proteins. Aqueous extract shows better activity against both Hacat and Mcf-7 cell lines and as the concentration increases there is an increase in the cell growth inhibition. For aqueous extract the IC50 value was found to be 46.54 µg/ml for Hacat and 92.4µg/ml for Mcf-7 cell lines. The present study concludes that both aqueous and ethanolic extract of entire plant of Ficus gibbosa blume possess anticancer activity against Hacat and Mcf-7 cell lines.