SCREENING OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR ANTICANCER POTENTIAL

Abstract

In ethno pharmacological systems the plants used for cancer treatment were poorly reported. A search was needed to explore the plants used for inflammations, skin disorders, diseases related to blood, immune systems and microbial infections. Since the symptoms of cancer are closely related to these diseases. In present study, plants (Anethum graveolens, Ricinus communis, Tribulus terrestris, Sonchus asper, Carthamus oxycantha, Capparis aphylla, Calotropis procera, Amaranthus viridis, Alhagi maurorum, Solanum nigrum, Achyranthes aspera) were selected by an ethno pharmacological survey and their methanol, ethanol and aqueous extracts were tested for their anticancer potential by using potato disc assay. Their phytochemical investigation was also conducted. The antioxidant activity of plant extracts was determined by DPPH assay and it was observed that extracts having high antioxidant activity also possessed good percent inhibition against tumor induction. The plant extracts were subjected for HPLC analysis to investigate the phenolic acids. Almost all plants extracts showed percent inhibition against tumor induction. Ricinus communis was found to possess highest anticancer potential and antioxidant activity. Although the total flavonoids of ethanol extract of Ricinus communis was maximum but the methanol extract had miximum anticancer potential with percent inhibition as 88.36% at minimum extract concentration. It had maximum total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity. HPLC analysis of methanol extract of Ricinus communis had maximum phenolic acids.