Modulation of steroid hormone synthesis by alcoholic extract of Asparagus racemosus on MCF-7 cells

Abstract

The objective of the study was to elucidate the effect of alcoholic extract of A. racemosus on oestrogen and progesterone synthesis from MCF-7 cells. The root tubers of A. racemosus was collected dried, extracted in soxhlet, solvent evaporated and dried and was used for study. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the extract was done. The IC50 was determined by doing MTT assay in MCF-7 cell lines. MCF-7 cells cultured in RPMI-1640 were exposed to IC50, half and double the doses of IC50 for 96 hours and the media collected every 48 hours to determine the concentration of oestrogen and progesterone using ELISA. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of steroids, alkaloids, diterpenes, triterpenes, tannins, glycosides and saponins The IC50 was found to be 267 µg/mL. The extract of A. racemosus caused an increase in the concentration of oestrogen and progesterone secreted by MCf-7 cells in a dose and time dependent fashion. There was an increase in the secretion of progesterone in a dose depenedent fashion compared to untreated cells, whereas the secretion decreased at 96 hours compared to 48 hours. From the study, it could be concluded that alcoholic extract of A. racemosus caused a positive modulation of steroid hormone synthesis.