Title: Evaluation of anti-cancer and anti-oxidant activity of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. extracts on human lung and breast cancer cell lines

Biography:

Mohammad Fazil is current research Evaluation of anti-cancer and anti-oxidant activity of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. extracts on human lung and breast cancer cell lines 

Abstract

 The present century has seen an upsurge in cancer morbidity and mortality like never before. The word cancer conjures up the image of a silent killer, a disease that puts significant emotional and financial strain on the patient and the family. Chemotherapy has shown promise in fighting cancer, but is wrought with side effects such as nausea, vomiting, oral ulcers, diarrhoea, hepatotoxicity, myelosuppression and immunosuppression. In Unani medicine, there are many plants having bioactive compounds, which are reported to have anti-cancer activity. Cuscuta reflexa Roxb., known as aftimoon in Unani medicine, is a parasitic plant widely found in temperate and tropical regions of India. Aftimoon is one the constituents of Equigard used in Chinese medicine which has been recommended by New York Medical College for treatment of cancer. Methods: The plant material was authenticated through Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Delhi, India. The extracts of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. were obtained to measure the anticancer activity with H-1299 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. Soxhlet extraction was utilized for stem and seeds. The anticancer activity of fractions of each extract obtained by using Flash chromatography was also checked. Besides, the antioxidant activity of each fraction was also checked. DNA binding study supported the results obtained during whole process. The cellular death was detected utilizing ELISA. Observations: The results indicated that extracts of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. exhibited strong anticancer activities as compared to the fractions of each extract. Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. extracts indicated noteworthy cytotoxicity against human H-1299 and (lung cancer) MCF-7 cancer cells (breast cancer). The best results on lung cancer cell lines were obtained with ethyl acetate extract (IC₅₀=74.48 to 902 μg/mL); while the acetone extract had the best activity on breast cancer cell lines (IC₅₀=51.59 to 240 μg/mL). Both extracts had strongest anti DPPH radical activities as compared to other extracts.  It was concluded that the ethyl acetate and acetone extract of this plant may be used to prepare the Unani medicine for treating lung and breast cancers without any toxicity.