In vitro screening of dry fruit extracts of Piper attenuatum for antioxidant and anticancer activity

Indian traditional medicinal plant Piper attenuatum (Buch-Ham) has been investigated for its antioxidant and anticancer activity. Three extracts were prepared using ethyl acetate, ethanol and methanol. In vitro antioxidant activity was performed by ABTS {2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)} free radical scavenging method. All three extracts reduced the free radicals produced by ABTS in a concentration-dependent manner which could be compared to the standard (gallic acid). Invitro anticancer activity of all extracts was carried out by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay method against MCF7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) cell lines. None of the extract showed anticancer activity when compared with the standard (mitomycin C) indicating that P. attenuatum is deprived of antiproliferative or cytotoxic components.