ANTI-PROLIFERATIVE POTENTIAL OF Carica papaya LEAVES ON BREAST CANCER CELLS – MCF-7

The study's objective is to identify the phytoconstituents and determine the anti-cancer potential of Carica papaya leaves against the MCF 7 cell line. Chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of C. papaya leaves were prepared by cold maceration method and qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed. The anti-proliferative effect of these extracts was determined by 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and apoptotic assay by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining method on MCF 7 cells. The effect of the extracts, with different concentrations, on DNA fragmentation, was also performed on MCF 7 cells. Qualitative analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, phenols, anthraquinones, proteins, and carbohydrates. Chloroform, methanol, and ethyl acetate extracts of C. papaya leaves were observed with potential DPPH free radical scavenging activity with 72%, 75%, and 78% respectively. Of these extracts, the chloroform extract (72%) was found to possess a more free radical scavenging effect against DPPH and also showed a dose-dependent effect, the maximum at 100µg/ml, on DNA fragmentation in MCF 7 cells. Further, chloroform extract showed a maximum anti-proliferative effect on MCF-7 cells with IC50 at 22±1.5µg/ml, whereas methanol and ethyl acetate extract at 30±0.5 µg/ml and 28±0.5 µg/ml respectively. Increased apoptosis in MCF 7 cells was observed with an increased concentration of chloroform extract of C. papaya. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that leaf extract of C. papaya found to possess an anti-proliferative effect and antioxidant potential and it could be due to the presence of rich secondary metabolites of the plant.