ESTIMATION OF THE ANTI- PROLIFERATIVE POTENTIAL OF COSTUS PICTUS ON MOLT- 4 HUMAN CANCER CELL LINE

Abstract

Introduction: The present study is aimed at evaluating the antiproliferative and apoptotic of Costus pictus on MOLT- 4 human cancer cell line, and also evaluating its safety to normal human lymphocytes. Materials and Methods: Dried leaves of C. pictus plant were used for aqueous and alcohol extraction. Different concentration of these were evaluated for their cytotoxicity by trypan blue dye exclusion method and 3- (4, 5- dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on the cancer cell line (Human acute lymphoblastic leukemia) MOLT- 4 and normal cell line (Human peripheral lymphocytes). The apoptic potential was analyzed by DNA fragmentation analysis of the treated cells. Results: The ethnolic extract of C.pictus was found to be anti-proliferative and cytotoxic at lower concentration and induced cell death in MOLT- 4 cells. The ethanolic extract at the same concentration had no cytotoxicity on normal lymphocytes. Campared to the ethanolic extract, aqueous and methanol extracts were less effective. Conclusion: the present investigation, for the first time, reveals the anticancer potential of the ethanolic extract of C.pictus on MOLT- 4 cells. It is very likely that the result can be extrapolated to animal or human system. The extracts can be used for further purification of the active component for future application.