ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT FROM STEPHANIA ELEGANS
<p class="Default"><strong>Objective: </strong>The present work was aimed to investigate the <em>in vitro </em>antioxidant and anti-cancer activities of methanolic extract of <em>Stephania elegans</em>, an unexplored species from <em>Menispermaceae</em> family.</p><p class="Default"><strong>Methods: </strong>The methanolic extract of <em>S. elegans </em>tubers was prepared and phytochemical screening and total phenolic content were analyzed by using standard methods. <em>In </em><em>vitro,</em><em> </em>antioxidant potential of methanolic extract was determined by 2-2’-azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cell line, Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 type (MCF-7) was evaluated by 3-(4, 5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay.</p><p class="Default"><strong>Results: </strong>Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, and saponins in the methanolic extract of <em>S. elegans </em>tubers. The total phenolic content in the methanolic extract was 23.0±0.06 mg GAE/g (dry mass). As revealed by ABTS assay, the methanolic extract of plant tubers showed significant radical scavenging activity (IC<sub>50</sub> 41.66±0.015 μg/ml). The reducing power activity of the extract increased with the concentration of the extract. MTT assay indicated that <em>S. elegans </em>has potent cytotoxic activity towards MCF-7 cells (IC<sub>50 </sub>158.7±0.13 μg/ml).</p><p class="Default"><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This is the first study demonstrating the antioxidant and anticancer capabilities of the methanolic extract of <em>S. elegans</em>. This study also provides a significant basis for further isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from <em>S. elegans</em>.</p>