2015, Vol. 3, Issue 5, Part B

author(s)
Mohammed I Garbi, Elbadri E Osman, Ahmed S Kabbashi

abstract
Cancer is clearly worldwide problem. The incidence and mortality rates for various cancers are similar, but not identical, among developed countries. The present study was designed to investigate the cytotoxic activities of Bauhinia rufescens extracts against MCF-7 cell line. MCF-7 cells were cultured in MEM medium and incubated with different concentrations 31.25, 62.50, 125, 250 and 500 μg/ml of Bauhinia rufescens extracts for 72 h. Post-treatment, percent cell mortality was studied by (MTT) assays. The results showed that petroleum ether and methanol extracts significantly reduced cell mortality on MCF-7 cells in a concentration dependent manner. Concentrations of 31.25 μg/ml and above of petroleum ether and 500 μg/ml of methanol extract were found to be cytotoxic in MCF-7 cells. Cell mortality at 31.25, 62.50, 125, 250 and 500 μg/ml of petroleum ether extract was recorded as 61.69%, 64.12%, 78.39%, 82.34% and 87.35% respectively, whereas at 31.25, 62.50, 125, 250 and 500 μg/ml of methanol extract values were 56.97%, 59.35%, 66.86%, 71.26% and 74.22% respectively by MTT assay. The data revealed that the treatment with petroleum ether and methanol of Bauhinia rufescens leaf extract induced cell death in MCF-7 cells. However, further work is running on to identify the compound(s) responsible for anticancer activity in each extract.