Investigation of anticancer potential of hypophyllanthin and phyllanthin against breast cancer by in vitro and in vivo methods

ObjectiveTo investigate the in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities of hypophyllanthin and phyllanthin isolated from Phyllanthus amarus Schum & Thonn against breast cancer.MethodsIn vitro anticancer activity was evaluated against two cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) using MTT assay. In vivo anticancer activity was tested using Sprague-Dawley rats with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea induced mammary cancer.ResultsIn vitro studies demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cell growth with IC50 values of (35.18±1.48) μg/mL (hypophyllanthin) and (32.51±0.95) μg/mL (phyllanthin) for MCF-7; (38.74±1.24) (hypophyllanthin) and (32.2±1.17) (phyllanthin) for MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. Tumor weights per group at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg/day for hypophyllanthin (12.82 and 12.06 g) and phyllanthin (11.95 and 8.87 g) treated groups were significantly (P<0.001) lower than untreated N-methyl-N-nitrosourea group (35.85).ConclusionResults of the present research work indicated that the isolated lignan compounds, hypophyllanthin and phyllanthin showed significant anticancer activities against breast cancer, in vitro and in vivo.