ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC FLOWER EXTRACT FROM NYMPHAEA PUBESCENS WILLD AGAINST HUMAN CERVICAL AND BREAST CARCINOMA IN VITRO

Abstract

Nymphaea pubescens Willd (Nymphaeaceae) is a fascinating aquatic plant mentioned in siddha system of medicine, in the treatment of bleeding piles, diabetes and as cardiotonic in palpitation of the heart. Nymphaea species was traditionally used for treating cancer. The present study was designed to evaluate the invitro antiproliferative activity of Nymphaea pubescens Willd. The ethanolic extract of different parts such as rhizome, leaf, flower and fruit was subjected for MTT assay. The ethanolic extract of flower part was found to be cytotoxic against human cervical carcinoma Hela cell lines and human breast carcinoma MCF cell lines. The IC50 value of ethanolic flower extract was 91.57µg/ml against Hela cell lines and 99.6µg/ml against MCF-7 cell lines. Significant results were observed thereby justifying the use of plant in the traditional system of medicine