Phytochemical investigations and systematic exploration of anti-cancer potential of leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

Leaves of Nyctanthes arbor -tr istis have been traditionally used as anti-cancer drug, but there is no report to support this tradi tional claim. The present study is undertaken to establish the anti-cancer activi ty of the N. arbortristis, and to identify the most active anticancer fraction(s) f rom its different extracts. Leaves of N. arbor -tr istis were extracted with solvents of varied polari ty (toluene, chloroform, ethylacetate and aqueous ethanol (HA), and subsequently evaluated for their anti-cancer activity against HL60 cell lines using MTT assay method. The toluene and HA extracts were fractionated through column chromatography and successive solvent extractions, respectively. All extracts, except ethyl acetate extract, exhibited potent anti-cancer activity. Four fractions of the toluene extract were found maximal ly potent whereas the petroleum ether f raction of HA was found responsible for anti-cancer activity of HA extract. I t is concluded that the plant can serve as an excel lent source of potent and probably new anti-cancer lead(s), which can be further modif ied chemically to produce a series of compounds for development of potent and safe anti-cancer drugs.