Antiproliferative and Pro-apoptotic activities of the stem bark of <i>Persea Americana</i> (lauraceae) mill in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell Line

Abstract

Persea americana (Lauraceae) have been used in traditional medicine for a wide range of illness and some of these uses have been proven scientifically. The aim of this present study is to screen for the phytochemical content, determine the proximate parameter and determine the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of the stem bark of Persea americana in MCF-7 cell line by flow cytometer. Result of the phytochemical screening showed the presence of carbohydrate, reducing sugar, tannins, saponin and alkaloid. Proximate analysis gave moisture content of 13.82 ± 0.24 %, acid insoluble ash of 1.17 ± 0.15 %, alcohol soluble extract 2.13 ± 0.14 % and water soluble extractive 1.67 ± 0.07 %. It lacks both antiproliferative and apoptotic activities in MCF-7 cell line but significantly reduced the percentage of cells in G2 phase of the cell cycle (P < 0.1). These results showed that the stem barks of Persea americana contained compounds that may be responsible for it activity. Keyword: Persea americana, antiproliferative activity, apoptotic effect, flow cytometer, proximate analysis