Pharmacological, phytochemical screening and evaluation of in vitro anticancer potential of traditional medicinal plant Morinda umbellata L. leaf extracts on human breast carcinoma MCF – 7 cell line

Abstract

Morinda umbellata L. (Indian mulberry) is a rare traditional medicinal plant that has been used to treat various diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, muscle pain and high blood pressure. The main objective of the present scientific investigation is to screen the pharmacognostic characters, phytochemical constituents and to evaluate its anticancer property by using different extracts. Histochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids and saponins. Fluorescence behaviour was analysed. Physicochemical parameters such as ash value (9.00%), extractive value, moisture content (6.50%), acid insoluble ash (1.50%), water insoluble ash (4.20%), alcohol soluble (10.00%), water soluble (11.40%) extractive values were obtained. The phytochemical evaluation of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol and aqueous extracts revealed the presence of phytoconstituents such as tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, triterpenoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, polyphenols, glycosides, coumarins and anthocyanins. Quantitative analysis of leaf extracts has shown the significant amounts of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids (153.20mg/gm), saponins (128.10mg/gm), terpenoids (43.70 mg/gm), phenol (186.67 mg/gm) and alkaloids (0.181±0.2mg/gm). The anticancer potential of ethanol, methanol and ethyl acetate extracts was found as potent cytotoxic activity with IC50 values of 35.8μg/ml, 46.9μg/ml and 54.8μg/ml. The present study justifies the use of M. umbellata L. for cancer treatment.