Planta Med 2012; 78 - PI122
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1320809

Anticancer activity of Enterolobium cyclocarpum on cervical and breast cancer cells in vitro

A Sowemimo 1, L Spies 2, L Hongbin 3, M van de Venter 2
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria
  • 2Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa
  • 3Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, People's Republic of China

Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb., a tree growing in Africa, is used in traditional treatment of cancer. The anticancer effects of the methanolic extract of the leaves, were investigated in cervical (HeLa) and breast (MCF7) cancer cell lines using the MTT assay, cell cycle analysis and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. Significant growth inhibition was observed with IC50 values of 2.07±1.30µg/mL and 11.84±1.18µg/mL for HeLa and MCF7 respectively. Cell cycle analysis indicated that HeLa cells were arrested in the G2/M phase while in the MCF7, the cells were arrested in the G1/G0 phase. The Annexin V-FITC/PI staining revealed phosphatidylserine translocation and thus apoptosis induction upon treatment with the extract. The results validate the traditional use of the plant.