Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Screening of Anti-breast Cancer and Anti-oxidant Potentials of Selected Medicinal Plants from Sri Lanka

Nimesha Sulochani Wickramaratne, Thusyanthan Jeyaraj, Kanishka Sithira Senathilake, Kamani Hemamala Tennekoon, Desiree Nedra Karunaratne, Sameera Ranganath Samarakoon

European Journal of Medicinal Plants · pp. 32–53 · Published 29 Aug 2024

10.9734/ejmp/2024/v35i61206

Abstract

Aim: To identify anti- breast cancer potential of medicinal plants used in Sri Lanka. Study Design: The anti-proliferative and cytotoxic potentials of solvent extracts from leaves and bark of seven medicinal plants from Sri Lanka were investigated against estrogen receptor (ER) positive (MCF-7 cell line), triple negative (MDA-MB-231 cell line) breast cancer subtypes and normal mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A cell line) in-vitro. Additionally, the anti-oxidant activity, phenolic, and flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined. Methodology: The anti-proliferative activity of the extracts was determined using Sulforhodamine B assay. The anti-oxidant activity was measured using 2, 2-di (4-tert-octylphenyl)-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and Ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The Flavonoid and polyphenol contents were assessed using AlCl3 and Folin-Ciocalteu reagents, respectively. Results: Extracts of Erigeron sp, Gardenia crameri, Canarium zeylanicum, Elaeocarpus subvillosus and Angiopteris evecta exerted high anti-proliferative potentials (half maximal inhibition concentration IC50 <100 µg/ mL) with less cytotoxicity to normal mammary epithelial cells. Most selective, potent extracts against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines, were dichloromethane extracts of A. evecta leaves (IC50 = 43.74 µg/ mL) and C. zeylanicum bark (IC50 = 44.75 µg/ mL) respectively. All methanol extracts, except those from A. evecta and A. variabilis exhibited potent anti-oxidant activity and high poly-phenolic content in Galic acid equivalents (>50 mg/g). Comparatively high flavonoid quercetin equivalents (> 100 mg/ g) content was observed in dichloromethane extracts of Erigeron sp. leaves and bark. Conclusion: Five of the seven studied plants demonstrate potential for use in cancer treatment. The phytochemicals responsible for the anti-cancer activity of these plants may not include polyphenols and flavonoids. However, the extracts with high anti-oxidant potentials, primarily attributed to the polyphenolic compounds present. In the future, these extracts could be used to isolate potential anti-breast cancer and anti-oxidant compounds for drug development. Furthermore, the study adds scientific value for traditional remedies and decoctions.

Endemic/ medicinal plants anti-proliferative anti-oxidant flavonoid content phenolic content

References (24)

  1. 1 Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries [DOI]
  2. 2 Subtyping of Breast Cancer by Immunohistochemistry to Investigate a Relationship between Subtype and Short and Long Term Survival: A Collaborative Analysis of Data for 10,159 Cases from 12 Studies [DOI]
  3. 3 Validation of in-vitro bioassay methods: Application in herbal drug research [DOI]
  4. 4 Cytotoxic activity screening of some indigenous Thai plants [DOI]
  5. 5 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Review of Conventional and Advanced Therapeutic Strategies [DOI]
  6. 6 The ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay for non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity: concepts, procedures, limitations and applications [DOI]
  7. 7 Heterogeneity within molecular subtypes of breast cancer [DOI]
  8. 8 Anthocyanin supplement as a dietary strategy in cancer prevention and management: A comprehensive review [DOI]
  9. 9 Comparison of Medicinally Important Natural Products versus Synthetic Drugs-A Short Commentary [DOI]
  10. 10 Administration of antioxidants in cancer: debate of the decade [DOI]
  11. 11 Risk of recurrence among patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative, early breast cancer receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis [DOI]
  12. 12 Natural and Synthetic Drugs as Potential Treatment for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-2019) [DOI]
  13. 13 Triple Negative Breast Carcinoma and the Basal Phenotype: From Expression Profiling to Clinical Practice [DOI]
  14. 14 Analgesic and antiinflammatory activities of Erigeron floribundus [DOI]
  15. 15 Role of Antioxidants in the Prevention of Cancer [DOI]
  16. 16 Phenolic contents, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Elaeocarpus floribundus Blume.
  17. 17 Cytotoxicity against Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HepG2) Cells and Anti-Oxidant Activity of Selected Endemic or Medicinal Plants in Sri Lanka [DOI]
  18. 18 Mechanisms of hormonal therapy resistance in breast cancer [DOI]
  19. 19 Cytotoxic, Antioxidant and Apoptotic Effects of Twenty Sri Lankan Endemic Plants in Breast Cancer Cells [DOI]
  20. 20 Antibacterial and antifungal activities of Angiopteris evecta [DOI]
  21. 21 Anticancer effects of Gardenia jasminoides in HepG2 human hepatoma cells
  22. 22 Anticancer potential of Dillenia indica and Dillenia pentagyna plants and its correlation with presence of active phytoconstituent
  23. 23 Angiopteris evecta (G.Forst.) Hoffm. Marattiaceae [DOI]
  24. 24 Evaluation of in vitro antibacterial activity and phytochemical profile of aqueous leaf extract of Asystasia variabilis [DOI]

Cited by 6

African Medicinal Plants Targeting Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC): A Systematic Review of Ethnobotanical Surveys, Phytochemistry and Anti-TNBC Studies

Judith Flore Tchuissang Mbougnia, Peron Bosco Leutcha, Gervais Mouthé Happi · Pharmaceuticals · 2026

Phytochemical screening, in vitro and in silico evaluation of antioxidant, anti-diabetic, antibacterial activities of rhizome extracts from Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz (snake jasmine)

Minoli Apsara Rupasinghe Sudu Dewage, Visal C. Lorensu Hewage, Gershaun Daniel Naveed George · In Silico Pharmacology · 2026

Showing 2 of 6 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

61

Page views

0

PDF downloads

19

Outbound clicks

6

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.