CYTOTOXIC EFFECT OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF FICUS PUMILA LEAVES ON MCF7 BREAST CANCER CELLS

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies in females worldwide. It causes a significant health care burden in both developed and developing countries. Herbal medicines are attracting the attention of the scientific community towards the new treatment of breast cancer. Ficus pumila is a creeping fig in the mulberry family and knows as many effects in medical uses. This study is aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of Ethanol extract of Ficus pumila on MCF7 breast cancer cells. This finding showed that the extract inhibited the proliferation of the breat cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, with the IC₅₀ value was 0.29 mg/mL after 48h incubation. Flow cytometry analysis showed that Ficus pumila ethanol extract arrested cell cycle at G2/M phase caused the cytotoxic effect, therefore caused apoptosis. Thus, Ficus pumila may be considered a good candidate to againt breast cancer cells.