IN VITRO ANTICANCER ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF BACOPA MONNIERI (L.) WETTST.

Plants have played a significant role in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases for the last many decades. Natural products have been rediscovered as important tools for drug development despite advances in combinatorial chemistry. Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. (Scrophulariaceae) is a herbaceous plant traditionally used from time immemorial in Ayurvedic and folklore medicines. The various ethnomedicinal uses mentioned are antitumor, against anxiety and depression, epilepsy, against bronchitis and asthma, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular effects, hypothyroidism, anticonvulsant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative activity, antipyretic and antistress. Preliminary phytochemical analysis was carried out using different extracts. Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay was done for in-vitro anticancer activity. The preliminary phytochemical studies of B. monnieri whole plant showed that it possesses tannins, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, glycosides, flavonoids, resins, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, and fixed oils, proteins and starch. The in-vitro anticancer activity was performed against various Human Cancer Cell Lines namely Cervix (ME180, SiHa), Leukemia (HL60, K562), Ovarian (A2780, Ovkar-3), Breast (MCF-7, MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-435, MDA-MB-231, ZR-75-1, BT-474), Prostate (PC3, DU145), Colon (HT29, Colo205), Lung (A549), Hepatoma (HEPG2) and Oral (AW13516). Out of the various extracts and cell lines used for studying anticancer activity, the ethanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. was active on Human Breast Cancer Cell Line (MDA–MB-468). The anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. maybe related to its saponin and flavonoid contents.