Investigating the antioxidant and anticancer effect of alkaloids isolated from root extracts of Berberis aristata

Abstract

• Antioxidant and anticancer alkaloids were isolated and characterized from root extract of B. aristata. • Isolated alkaloids exhibited antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cell line. • The alkaloids showed significant binding affinity with EGFR. Medicinal plants are an enormous source of biologically active compounds with antioxidant and anticancer properties. In the present study antioxidant compounds with anticancer properties were isolated and characterized from a root extract of Berberis aristata DC (Berberidaceae) (BA). Spectral analysis, antioxidant and antiproliferative assays, and cell cycle analysis were performed to determine the biological activity of the compounds. Three alkaloids Berberrubine (BA1), Jatrorrhizine (BA2), and Thalifendine (BA3), were characterized and identified with antioxidant and antiproliferative efficacy against MCF-7 a breast cancer cell lines. A docking study revealed that the isolated compounds target EGFR as EGFR is aberrantly expressed in breast cancer. Thus, the isolated compounds will be further explored as chemotherapeutic agents against breast cancer and maybe a practical approach against breast cancer.