The Journal of Phytopharmacology, 2017;6(6):311-317 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2017.6601

Research Article

Cytotoxic effect of Berberis libanotica roots extracts on human cancer cells and antioxidant activities

Kamar Hamade¹ , Louna Karam² , Jean Habib¹ , Raghida Abou Merhi² , Assem Elkak¹

Kamar Hamade,Louna Karam,Jean Habib,Raghida Abou Merhi,Assem Elkak

1. Laboratoire de Valorisation des Ressources Naturelles et Produits de Santé (LVRNPS), Faculty of Pharmacy, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Lebanese University, Rafic Hariri University Campus, P.O.BOX 14/6573, Hadath, Lebanon
2. Laboratory of Genomic and Health, Faculty of sciences, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology Lebanese University, Rafic Hariri University Campus, P.O.BOX 5, Hadath, Lebanon

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 7th October, 2017 / Accepted: 11th November, 2017

Abstract

In the present study, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect and the antioxidant activity of methanolic and ethanolic roots extracts obtained from Berberis libanotica a Lebanese medicinal tree. Cytotoxic activity was assessed on the colon cancer HT 29, HCT 116, Caco-2 and breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231cell lines, using the MTT viability assay. Both extracts inhibited cancer cells proliferation in a doseand time depending manner without being cytotoxic against the normal MCF-10 cell line. Our results suggest that methanolic extract could induce a caspase-independent cell death in the colon and breast tumor cells HT 29 and MCF-7, respectively. DPPH and FRAP assays showed a moderate to strong antioxidant activity of the methanolic and ethanolic extracts with EC50 values of 0.13 ± 0.001 and 0.1± 0.002 mg/ml, respectively. Collectively, these findings suggest that Berberis libanotica roots could serve as a promising source of antioxidant and anticancer bioactive compounds.