GI50 INHIBITION STUDY ON ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF CONVOLVULUS PLURICAULIS, MICHELIA CHAMPACA AND CHROMOLAENA ODORATA AGAINST HUMAN BREAST (MCF-7) AND COLON CANCER (HT-29) CELL LINE BY SULFORHODAMINE B (SRB) ASSAY METHOD

Manjushree Pawar* and Jayesh Dwivedi

Background: Cancer immunology is a rapidly growing field of research that studies interactions between the immune system and cancer cells. The selected plants have proven their immunomodulatory effects via cellular and humoral mediated immunity in animal models in our previous research work. Objective: To screen the ethanolic extracts of Convolvulus pluricaulis (CP), Michelia champaca (MC), Chromolaena odorata (CO) and combination of above three plants (CP+MC+CO) for in-vitro anticancer activity using breast and colon human cancer cell lines - MCF-7 and HT-29. Methods and materials: The extracts of selected plants (whole plant extract) were prepared by using maceration technique using ethanol as a solvent. The extracts were subjected for in-vitro anticancer potential using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay against breast and colon cancer cell lines at concentrations of 10, 20, 40 and 80 µg/ml. The standard drug Adriamycin was used. Results: All the extracts inhibited percent control growth in dose dependent manner for both breast and colon cancer cell line. GI50 (Concentration of drug causing 50% inhibition of cell growth) for breast cancer cell line in CP extract was more than 80 µg/ml, and in MC, CO, and CP+MC+CO extract it was found to be 77.6, 49.5 and 78.2 µg/ml. GI50 for colon cancer cell line in all the extracts was found to be more than 80 µg/ml. Optimization in experimental conditions or turning extracts into novel drug delivery systems can enhance the medicinal effects of the plants and can reduce the GI50 concentration. Conclusion: Optimization in experimental conditions or turning extracts into novel drug delivery systems can enhance the medicinal effects of the plants and can reduce the GI50 concentration to desired standard level considering the phenolic/flavonoid richness of these plants.