Apoptotic Effects of Prunus persica (L) Batsch Leaves against Breast Cancer Cell Line (MDA-MB-231) and Cervical Cancer Cell Line (HeLa) In Vitro

Background: Apoptosis is a normal physiological phenomenon that plays a pivotal role during embryonic development, retention of tissue homeostasis and pathology. The experimental investigation of apoptotic processes is still challenging and routinely based on the assessment of molecular events like chromatin fragmentation and caspase enzyme activity. The present study was conducted to evaluate the apoptosis inducing effect of the Methanol, aqueous and chloroform extracts of Prunus persica leaves. Methods: Different extracts were obtained by cold extraction process using Methanol, water and Chloroform as solvents. Crude extracts were screened for different phytochemical constituents like flavonoids, tannins, sugars, saponins, and glycosides etc. The apoptotic effect of Prunus persica leaves was examined by DAPI staining assay against MDA-MB-231 (Human breast cancer cell line) and HeLa (Human cervical cancer cell line). Results: The results of the studies revealed that the Chloroform extract have tremendous apoptotic activity on MDA-MB-231 cells and methanolic extract have good apoptotic activity on HeLa cells. Nuclear morphological changes assessed by DAPI shows changes in morphology, apoptotic body formation, cell shrinkage, nuclei that were broken into discrete fragments and cell budding that resulted  in cells of various sizes. Conclusion: The phytochemical screening reveals the presence of alkaloids, tannins, Saponins, steroids and flavonoids. The Chloroform extract has shown more effectiveness and less toxicity against MDA-MB-231 and Methanol extract was more apoptotic against HeLa in comparison to others. The present findings clearly indicated that Prunus persica leaves showed dose dependant cytotoxicity.