www.ijbcp.com International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology | January 2019 | Vol 8 | Issue 1 Page 1 IJBCP International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology Print ISSN: 2319-2003 | Online ISSN: 2279-0780 Original Research Article Antiproliferative effects of Vanilla planifolia leaf extract against breast cancer MCF-7 cells Vijaybabu Kaliappan 1 , Punnagai Kumaravelu 2 * INTRODUCTION Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed disease in females and also a major public health problem which needs research to provide a specific treatment. 1 Epidemiological studies revealed that breast cancer had a mortality incidence of rural to urban is 66/8 in India. 2 Taking adverse events of chemotherapy in to consideration, natural products are being explored for anti cancerous effects in the recent researches. MCF-7 cells were widely used for screening anti cancer drugs against breast cancer. 3 Vanilla planifolia (vanilla)is a well-known plant which is extensively used as flavouring agent in various food and medicinal products. Because of growing interest for natural products or phytochemicals and their medicinal values, recent studies had shown many medicinal properties of V. planifolia. The flavouring agent was obtained majorly from beans of vanilla. This included vanillin, vanillic acid which comprised 250 compounds altogether. 4,5 Another study revealed that out of 200 compounds, 26 compounds were at a concentration of 1mg. 6-8 Vanilla was first discovered by Aztecs who were Mexicans during 1300's. Aztecs were the first to use it as flavouring agent in drinks. This crop was native to Mexico, due to absence of natural pollinator outside Mexico as stated by the ABSTRACT Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer disease among females in India and worldwide. This needs a critical research for finding the drugs to treat breast cancer with less side effects. The aim of the present study is to reveal the anti-proliferative effects of vanilla extract against MCF-7 cells. Methods: To reveal anti proliferative effects of vanilla leaf extract, MTT assay, cell cycle analysis and DNA fragmentation assay was performed as per standard protocols. Results: MTT assay showed decrease in cell viability with increase of dose of extract and revealed IC50 value at 31.2μg/ml. DNA fragmentation was seen in extract treated cells. Conclusions: The results of the present study confirm the antiproliferative property of vanilla leaf extract in MCF-7 cells. This study results conclude vanilla leaf extract as an effective plant source medicament for treating breast cancer. Keywords: Breast cancer, DNA fragmentation, IC50, MTT, Phytochemicals DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20185107 1 Department of Pharmacology, Annapoorna Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India 2 Department of Pharmacology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute SRIHER, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Received: 28 November 2018 Accepted: 06 December 2018 *Correspondence to: Dr. Punnagai Kumaravelu, Email: punnagaiguna@ hotmail.com Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open- access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non- Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non- commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.