The stem bark and leaves of A. semecarpifolia (Lauraceae) have been employed by traditional healers in Western Ghats region of Karnataka, India to treat human breast cancer. The present study was initiated to explore the cytotoxic properties of A. semecarpifolia. The secondary metabolites were extracted from stem bark and leaves. The stem bark methanol extract (SBME) and leaf methanol extract (LME) were subjected to liquid-liquid partition chromatography, followed by evaluating the presence of phytochemical constituents in liquid fractions and their cytotoxic potential against MCF-7 and L6 cells by MTT assay. The qualitative phytochemical screening of theliquid fractions revealed the presence of different secondary metabolites. The quantitative analysis revealed that the liquid fractions were rich in alkaloids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Stem bark methanol fraction (SBMF) and leaf methanol fraction(LMF) showed potential cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells with an IC50 of 47.11±3.53µg/ml and 48.62±2.40µg/ml respectively. Whereas, stem bark chloroform fraction(SBCF) and leaf chloroform fraction(LCF) showed moderate activity on MCF-7 cells. Vinblastine sulphate was used as a reference standard and it showed potent cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cells with an IC50 of 24.03±2.12µg/ml. Even though Vinblastine is a potentchemotherapeutic drug it affected the viability of normal cells. In comparison with Vinblastine, the liquid fractions showed very less toxicity on normal cells. Hence, the present study suggested that A. semecarpifolia stem bark and leaves are the potent cytotoxic agents against MCF-7 cells.

Alseodaphne semecarpifolia (Lauraceae) is a traditional medicinal plant historically used in Indian Western Ghats to treat various human diseases. From the past few decades it has been traditionally recognized as an effective agent in cancer treatment. The phytochemical investigation of the stem bark and leaves of A. semecarpifolia led to the isolation of bioactive flavonoid compounds Icariin and Baicalein. Their structures were elucidated from obtained spectral data ( 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, 1 H 1 H COSY, FTIR and MS). Cytotoxic activity of Icariin and Baicalein evaluated against MCF-7 cells revealed their potent activity with an IC 50 of 42.15 ± 4.78 μg/ml and 44.37 ± 3.46 μg/ml, respectively, while very least effect was observed on normal cells (L6). Present study has suggested that both Icariin and Baicalein have potent cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cells.

A. semecarpifolia (Lauraceae) has been employed by Indian traditional healers to treat various human cancers. The cytotoxic property of A. semecarpifolia was evaluated by extracting secondary metabolites from stem bark and leaves. The stem bark methanol extract (SBME) and leaf methanol extract (LME) were subjected to HR-LCMS analysis, followed by evaluating their cytotoxic potential against MCF-7, SCC-9, HeLa, A-549 and L6 cells by MTT assay. The phytochemical screening of SBME and LME revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, phenolics and glycosides. HR-LCMS analysis of SBME and LME revealed the presence of 31 and 28 active compounds respectively. Among them Cucurbitacin A and Gambogic acid are the two compounds identified with anticancer properties. SBME showed potent cytotoxicity on MCF-7 and SCC-9 cells, whereas LME showed significant cytotoxicity only on MCF-7 cells. Vinblastine sulphate was used as a reference standard, even though Vinblastine is an efficient anticancer drug it affected the viability of normal cells. In comparison with Vinblastine, both SBME and LME showed very less toxicity on normal cells. Hence, the present study suggested that stem bark and leaves of A. semecarpifolia are the possible chemotherapeutic agents having potential cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and SCC-9 cells.