PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTICANCER POTENTIAL OF LEAF EXTRACTS FROM EDIBLE GREATER YAM, DIOSCOREA ALATA L., FROM NORTH-EAST INDIA

ABSTRACT

                The medicinal role of dietary plants in promoting the healthy endurance of human beings is traditionally well documented through ancient and modern times all over the world. The purpose of this study was to delineate the differential antioxidant, ROS scavenging and iron chelation activities of the 70% methanolic extract (DALM) and aqueous extract (DALA) of Dioscorea alata L. leaves followed by the analysis of various phytochemicals as well as an attempt was made to clarify the active compounds through analytical High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The present study is also aimed to investigate the potential anticancer activity of the extracts against human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7). The study showed an impressive display of total antioxidant, reducing power, phenolic and carbohydrate contents by DALM followed by its excellent efficacy in scavenging the, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl chloride, and nitric oxide. DALA on the other hand showed fairly good scavenging activities of hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen and hydroxyl chloride. DALM exhibited moderate cytotoxicity towards MCF-7 cells, whereas, DALA showed no or slight cytotoxicity. These results confirm the possible role of the 70% methanolic extract as a promising free radical scavenger and as a potent antioxidant and anticancer source.

Key Words: High performance liquid chromatography, Antioxidant, Free radicals, Phytochemicals, Cytotoxicity.