DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2014.v02i05.004

Pages: 336-340

The purpose of this study is to determine the cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest and apoptotic activity of the crude alkaloid from the root of P.cauliflora in human breast cancer cell line T47D. The alkaloid fraction was evaluated cytotoxic activities on T47D and compared with normal African green monkey kidney ephitelial (Vero) cell lines by using MTT assay. The cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry. We observed that the crude alkaloid was cytotoxic and selectively the growth of T47D cells compared to untreated control in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 1.5±0.2 µg/ml. However, the crude alkaloid was not toxic to normal African green monkey kidney ephitelial (Vero) cells with an selectivity index (SI) of 21.6. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that crude alkaloid caused cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and induced apoptosis. Hence, Pycnarrhena cauliflora displays potential to be further exploited in the discovery and development of new anticancer agents.