EVALUATION OF THE CYTOTOXIC AND ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITIES OF POLYSCIAS FRUTICOSA (L) HARMS ROOT PHYTOSOME ON NEUROBLASTOMA CELL LINE

Abstract

The present work focuses on the cytotoxic and anti-cancer studies of Polyscias fruticosa phytosome (PfrP) prepared from its root n-butanol extracts. The prepared phytosome is evaluated by particle size measurements, zeta potential and SEM studies. P. fruticosa growing in India included in the same family of ginseng (Araliaceae), contain large amounts of triterpenoid saponins in their leaves and roots. The Araliaceae family members are known for various therapeutic properties like adaptogenic, immunostimulant, antioxidant activities etc, as evidenced from the bioactivities of ginseng, a famous member of this family.

The results indicated that the prepared phytosome laid in the nanoparticle range (50-200nm) and exhibited characteristic zeta potential, and SEM values. Pfr phytosome (40mcg/ml) showed effective cytotoxic action on the Allium cepa root tip cells demonstrated by the presence of cell division abnormalities as compared with standard reference Adriamycin (20mcg/ml). The anticancer activity is screened on neuro blastoma cell lines followed by MTT assay. The anticancer activity studies indicate that the Pfr phytosome at 125 mcg concentration (50.37% cytotoxicity) showed comparable activity with the reference standard etoposide at 50 mcg concentration (62.74 % cytotoxicity).