Antioxidant activity and anticancer effect of Vitex agnus-castus L. (Verbenaceae) seed extracts on MCF-7 breast cancer cells

摘要

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activities of diethyl ether, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and water (infusion and decoction) extracts from Vitex agnus-castus L. (Verbenaceae) seeds.Materials and methods: Antioxidant activities of crude extracts from V. agnus-castus L. seeds were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging assay, and anticancer activity of the extracts on MCF-7 breast cancer cells of extracts were evaluated by determining cytotoxic, DNA damaging and apoptotic activities with trypan blue exclusion assay, comet assay and Hoechst 33258/propidium iodide double staining.Results: Although V. agnus-castus L. methanol and water (infusion and decoction) extracts showed significant DPPH scavenging activity, diethyl ether, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts have low DPPH scavenging activity. However, all of the extracts showed a significant cytotoxic, DNA damaging and apoptotic effects in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Cytotoxic, DNA damaging and apoptotic activities of the extracts increased in concentration dependent manner.Conclusion: Our results suggest crude extracts of V. agnus-castus seeds have potent antioxidant, cytotoxic and apoptotic activity. Further investigations are required for the isolation and identification of individual phenolic compounds in the extracts.