CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF PHYLLANTHUS EMBLICA L. LEAVES

The aim of this study is to investigate the cytotoxic effect of various extracts from Phyllanthus emblica L. According to Ayurveda this plant has potent anticancer activity and hence, this study is targeted at screening potential cytotoxic extracts using a yeast system. Yeast has been used as a model organism for many preclinical drug screens. In this study phytochemical extraction has been done by three methods (sonication, low and elevated temperature systems) using six different solvent systems (aqueous, methanol, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether, chloroform: methanol and water: methanol). The viability studies have been done using Methyl Thiazole Tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Aqueous extract at elevated temperature and water: methanol extract showed viability less than vinblastine. Further phytochemical analysis was done to identify major group of compounds present in each extract. It was concluded that flavonoids are present in extracts by doing TLC. HPTLC using standards was carried out and showed that at least two chemotherapeutic agents kaempferol and rutin were present. The data further indicates that kaempferol is major constituent in the extracts.