Aqueous and methanol extracts of the flowers of Clitoria ternatea (CT), a popularly
plant consumed for blue colour in Nasi Kerabu was selected to explore its cytotoxic
effect on six types of normal and cancer-origin cell lines. These included the hormone-dependent breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), non-hormone-dependent breast cancer cell
line (MDA-MB-231), human ovary cancer cell line (Caov-3), human cervical cancer cell line (Hela), human liver cancer cell line (HepG2) and human foreskin fibroblast cell line (Hs27). The anti-proliferation activities of the extracts were examined by employing colorimetric MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay through time periods of 24, 48 and 72 hours. Preliminary results showed that the water extracted of CT had significant effects (p < 0.05) against MCF-7 with an IC50 value of 175.35 µg/ml. Furthermore, the aqueous and methanolic extracts were investigated by Gas Chromatogram-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS chromatogram analysis of the water extracted had shown five peaks that represented components in the water extract namely mome inositol (38.7%) and pentanal (14.3%). Fifteen chemical constituents were identified in the methanol extract and the major chemical constituents were mome inositol (33.6%), cyclohexen, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethylideme)- (7.1%), acetic acid, cyano- (6.5%) and hirsutene (5.7%). Heavy metals tested were at very low levels. The analysis conducted on the flowers provides a strong basis for emphasizing the medicinal and nutritional value of CT.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among females in Malaysia. Ocimum
tenuiflorum L., (O. tenuiflorum) commonly known as ruku in Malaysia, is usually
cultivated as a garden ornamental plant because of its small purplish and some yellowish
flower. The specific objective of this research is to investigate the anticancer of O.
tenuiflorum against human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and
human fibroblast cell line (HS-27). In addition, another objective is to determine the
mineral and heavy metal determination of O. tenuiflorum. O. tenuiflorum exhibited
anticancer activity against MCF-7 (a hormone-dependent breast cancer cell line). The
viability of MCF-7 cells decreased significantly after treatment with various
concentrations of methanolic plant extracts (25 and 100 µg/mL), as shown via 3-(4,5-
dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The crude extracts
show the lower IC50 (less than 100 µg/mL) value against the cancer cell lines and show no
effect on HS-27. The high content of calcium in the leaves of O. tenuiflorum may play a
role in decreasing the risk of certain cancer. The concentrations of heavy metals (Pb and
As) detected in O. tenuiflorum are safe for consumption.
Plants, particularly fruits and vegetables, have many phytochemicals that possess various bioactivities, including antioxidant and anticancer properties. In this study, the aim was to investigate the antiproliferative properties of Syzygium fruits, namely water apple (Syzygium aqueum), milk apple (Syzygium malaccense), and malay apple (Syzygium malaccense L.) against two types of cancer-origin cells, namely MCF-7 (hormone dependent breast cancer cell line) and MDA-MB-231 (nonhormone-dependent breast cancer cell line). Two solvent methods were prepared using aqueous and methanol extraction. Antiproliferation activities of these extracts were evaluated by employing colorimetric MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay through time periods of 24, 48, and 72 hours. The result showed that extracts from the three fruits had no significant effects for 24 and 48 hours time periods (p >0.05) but extracts of Water apple and Malay apple displayed antiproliferation effects on MCF-7 cell lines (p