Modulatory potential of Tamarindus indica seed coat on oestrogen and progestone secretion in MCF-7 cell lines

Abstract

According to epidemiological research, the consumption of phytoestrogen rich foods has been shown to reduce the development of hormone dependent breast cancer. Phytoestrogens improved the efficacy of ongoing chemotherapy. Recent research indicates that polyphenols found in the tamarind seed coat have anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the modulatory potential of methanolic extract of seed coat of T. indica on oestrogen and progesterone production in MCF-7 cancer cell line. T. indica seeds were procured locally, shade dried and the seed coat was removed and extracted with methanol, followed by concentration of the extract using a rotary vacuum evaporator. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of seed coat extract was performed. The cytotoxicity of T. indica seed coat was assessed in MCF-7 cells using MTT assay and the IC50 was determined. The presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, phenolic compounds, diterpenes, saponins, glycosides and tannins were discovered by qualitative phytochemical analysis. T. indica seed coat decreased cell viability in a dose dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 16 µg/mL. There was dose dependent decrease in oestrogen concentration, whereas the progesterone concentration was found to be increased after 96hrs of treatment with the extract. From the study it could be concluded that methanolic extract of T. indica showed cytotoxicity in vitro against MCF-7 cell lines and it positively modulated progesterone secretion and negatively modulated oestrogen concentration in a time dependent fashion in MCF-7 cell lines. Present in vitro study shows that methanolic extract seed coat of T. indica may have promising role in breast cancer prevention, hence it can be used to develop novel compounds against hormone dependent breast cancer.