We evaluated the in-vitro antiproliferative and apoptotic potential of the ethyl acetate extract (EAE) of Peltophorum africanum, a member of the family Fabaceae (Sond) in order to validate its pharmacological use. Antiproliferation of human breast (MCF-7), colon (HT-29) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines by EAE was investigated using the Cell Titer-Blue viability assay and the mechanism of action delineated using the Nucleic Acid and Protein Purification Nucleospin® Tissue Kit, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), propidium iodide (PI) and acridine orange (AO) double-staining techniques. We observed a significant reduction in cell viability of the MCF-7 cells from 100% (untreated) to 54.33 ± 1.84% after 72 h of treatment with 5 µg/mL of EAE (P. value < 0.05). Internucleosomal DNA of MCF-7, HT-29 and HeLa cells was randomly fragmented into an uninterrupted spectrum of sizes, complemented by the intercalation of nucleic acid-specific fluorochromes by PI and AO spotting two phases of apoptosis; early (EA) and late (LA) apoptosis. Distinctive ultramorphological changes observed included; cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, and typical cell induced death. The ethyl acetate extract of P.africanum has the potential to induce apoptosis and is undergoing further studies in-vivo as a likely template for new anticancer therapy.
Keywords: Antiproliferation; Chemotherapy; Medicinal plant; Peltophorum africanum; apoptosis.