Abstract

IN- VITRO ANTICANCER AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF WHOLE PLANT OF VITEX ALTISSIMA EXTRACT AGAINST MCF—7 CELL LINES

Karthika Ramesh, Suresh Velayutham*, Deepan Natarajan and Senthilkumar Natesan

ABSTRACT

Vitex altissima (Lamiaceae), a medicinal plant traditionally used in Ayurveda, has been reported for its pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. The plant is rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic acids, which may contribute to its therapeutic potential. In this study, the ethanol extract of V. altissima was evaluated for its anticancer and antioxidant activities. Breast cancer, particularly the estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cell line, remains a major global health challenge due to its high incidence and resistance to conventional therapies. The search for novel plant-derived compounds with cytotoxic properties offers a promising approach for anticancer drug development. The present study investigated the antiproliferative and free radical scavenging potential of V. altissima against MCF-7 cells. The ethanol extract demonstrated significant concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells, with an IC50 value of 70.23 µg/mL, as determined by the MTT assay. In the DPPH radical scavenging assay, the extract exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant activity (50–1000 µg/mL), comparable to ascorbic acid (400 µg/mL). The IC50 and other inhibitory concentrations (IC10, IC20, IC80, IC90) were calculated using linear regression. These findings highlight V. altissima as a potential source of anticancer and antioxidant agents, warranting further exploration of its bioactive constituents.

Keywords: Vitex altissima, breast cancer, MCF-7 cells, cytotoxicity, DPPH assay, natural antioxidants.