title: Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Effect of Barringtonia racemosa and Hibiscus sabdariffa Fruit Extracts in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cell Line.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The fruits of Barringtonia racemosa and Hibiscus sabdariffa have been used in the treatment of abscess, ulcer, cough, asthma, and diarrhea as traditional remedy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate cytotoxic effect of B. racemosa and H. sabdariffa methanol fruit extracts toward human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) and its antioxidant activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total antioxidant activities of extracts were assayed using 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and β-carotene bleaching assay. Content of phytochemicals, total flavonoid content (TFC), and total phenolic content (TPC) were determined using aluminum chloride colorimetric method and Folin-Ciocalteu's reagent, respectively. Cytotoxic activity in vitro was investigated through 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  B. racemosa extract exhibited high antioxidant activities compared to H. sabdariffa methanol fruit extracts in DPPH radical scavenging assay (inhibitory concentration [IC50] 15.26 ± 1.25 μg/mL) and ί-carotene bleaching assay (I% 98.13 ± 1.83%). B. racemosa also showed higher TPC (14.70 ± 1.05 mg gallic acid equivalents [GAE]/g) and TFC (130 ± 1.18 mg quercetin equivalents [QE]/g) compared to H. sabdariffa (3.80 ± 2.13 mg GAE/g and 40.75 ± 1.15 mg QE/g, respectively). In MTT assay, B. racemosa extract also showed a higher cytotoxic activity (IC50 57.61 ± 2.24 μg/mL) compared to H. sabdariffa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicated that phenolic and flavonoid compounds known for oxidizing activities indicated an important role among the contents of these plants extract. B. racemosa methanol extract have shown potent cytotoxic activity toward MCF-7. Following these promising results, further fractionation of the plant extract is underway to identify important phytochemical bioactives for the development of potential nutraceutical and pharmaceutical use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The phenolic and flavonoid compounds were present in B. racemosa and H. sabdariffa methanol extractsB. racemosa methanol extract was found to be potent antioxidant activityB. racemosa methanol extract have shown potent cytotoxic activity (IC50 57.61 ± 2.24 μg/mL) toward MCF-7The phenolic and flavonoid compounds may contribute to the antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of B. racemosa. Abbreviations Used: MCF-7: Human breast cancer cell lines, DMEM: Modified eagle medium, DPPH: 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical, TPC: Total phenolic content, Na2CO3: Sodium carbonate, GAE: Gallic acid equivalents, TFC: Total flavonoid content, NaNO2: Sodium nitrite, AlCl3: Aluminum chloride, NaOH: Sodium hydroxide, QE: Quercetin equivalents, MTT: 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, IC50: Inhibitory concentration,
  Analysis of variance, DLA: Dalton's lymphoma ascitic.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Norliyana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amran
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Anis Najwa Abdul
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Rani
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Roziahanim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahmud
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Khoo Boon
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Yin
keywords: Antioxidant activities; Barringtonia racemosa; Cytotoxic activity; Hibiscus sabdariffa; Phytochemistry