Pharmacophore an International Research Journal
Background/aim: Multipara metric toxicity analyses at the individual cell level using cellular imaging-based methods such as High Content Screening (HCS) play a crucial role in detecting toxicity. The positive result of the toxicity on cancer cell increase with increasing concentration. This study aimed to assess the potential effect of alkaloid extract on breast cancer cells. Material and Methods: Opuntia polyacantha leaves were separately extracted with 80% methanol, and chloroform at pH 2 and 10, and the chloroform portion was dried to obtain the total alkaloid extract. The total alkaloid was qualitatively detected by Hager’s, Dragendorff’s, and Mayer’s reagents. The cytotoxic effect of Opuntia polyacantha alkaloids extract was examined in one-cultured cellular models (MCF7 breast cancer cell line) by HCS. The inhibitory effect of Opuntia polyacantha on MCF7 cell growth was due to the induction of apoptosis. Result: The study found that alkaloid extract of Opuntia polyacantha has the ability to reduce the viability of breast cancer cells by nuclear condensation, cell membrane permeability, disrupting Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP), fragmentation and releasing cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol. Thus, Opuntia polyacantha is a potential MCF7 inhibitor compared to doxorubicin as the positive control. Conclusion: In this study, data showed that Opuntia polyacantha might have therapeutic value in breast cancer treatment worthy of further attention.
