Cytotoxic activity of the methanolic extract of leaves and rhizomes of Curcuma amada Roxb against breast cancer cell lines.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the methanol extract of both the leaves and the rhizomes of Curcuma amada (C. amada) for their cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA MB 231.

METHODS

Viability and cytotoxicity induced by the extracts were assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide, sulforhodamine B, and lactate dehydrogenase release assays. Various staining techniques such as acridine orange/ethidium bromide, Giemsa, ethidium bromide, propidium iodide, and Hoechst 33342 staining were employed to study the mechanism of cell death induced by the extract.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the methanol extract of both the leaves and the rhizomes of C. amada exhibited strong cytotoxicity towards breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA MB 231. The extract also showed less cytotoxicity towards non-cancerous breast cell line HBL-100. The results of staining revealed that the extracts induced cell death in cancer cells which are mediated through apoptotic pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that the methanol extract of leaves and rhizomes of C. amada possess anticancer and cytotoxic activity.