Antimitotic activity of Borassus flabellifer Seed Coat

Abstract

The Antimitotic Activity of Methanolic extract of Borassus flabellifer L. ( Arecaceae ) seed coat (soft outer shell) was studied by using Seed Germination Assay and Allium cepa Root Tip Assay. The preliminary phytochemical screening of methanolic seed coat extract of Borassus flabellifer revealed that presence of carbohydrates, reducing sugars, coumarins, triterpenes, tannins and phenolic compounds. In Seed Germination Assay, the methanolic seed coat extract of Borassus flabellifer has significantly increased the percentage of inhibition after 24hrs, 48hrs and 72hrs treatment which was comparable with percentage of inhibition of methotrexate. At dose 50mg/ml (p<0.0001) extract has shown the inhibition of seed germination as significant as the standard drug methotrexate (0.1mg/ml)(p<0.0001). In Allium cepa root tip assay, the percentage of mitotic index was decreased significantly after 1, 3 and 6 hrs of drug treatment which was comparable with the percentage mitotic index of methotrexate. At dose 150mg/ml (p<0.0001) extract has shown antimitotic activity i.e., mitotic index as significant as of methotrexate of 0.1mg/ml (p<0.0001). Thus, the Methanolic seed coat extract of Borassus flabellifer is recommended for the treatment of cancer. Further in-vivo parameters need to be done for mechanistic evaluation of drug.