Anticancer Activity of Friedelin Isolated from  Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Cassia tora on HeLa and  HSC–1 Cell Lines

Ashwini Prabhu; M. Krishnamoorthy; D. Jagadeesh Prasad; Prashantha Naikd

Volume : III, Issue : X, October - 2013

Anticancer Activity of Friedelin Isolated from Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Cassia tora on HeLa and HSC–1 Cell Lines

Ashwini Prabhu, M. Krishnamoorthy, D. Jagadeesh Prasad, Prashantha Naikd

Abstract :

Cassia tora, an annual shrub growing in the wild is traditionally well–known for its therapeutic properties against certain human diseases. Considering some reports on the anticancer activity of this plant, a study was carried out to identify its constituent(s) with potential cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. IC(50) values of ethanolic leaf extract of C. tora on two human cancer cell lines, HeLa and HSC–1 were determined using Trypan blue exclusion and Methylthiazolyl tetrazolium assays. The crude extract showed a substantial cytotoxicity against both the cell lines. Fractionation of the crude extract by Acid–base fractionation yielded an alkaloid, phenolic and terpene fractions which were confirmed by respective qualitative tests. These three fractions were screened for their cytotoxicity, and only terpene was found to possess the substantial activity. Fractionation of terpene by TLC yielded 4 subfractions. the subfraction that showed significant anticancer activity (P<0.001) was characterized by spectroscopic techniques. Infrared spectroscopic data indicated that absorption peaks corresponding to terpenes. Mass spectrum revealed the presence of parent ion peak (m/z) at 427.3. 1H–NMR spectrum of the subfraction was indicative of the prominent chemical shifts at δ, cohering to the properties of friedelin. Thus, the present study confirms that C. tora leaf contains friedelin, which has potential anticancer activity on HeLa and HSC–1 cells. In comparison, HeLa cell line was more sensitive than HSC–1 for cytotoxic effect of friedelin.