75 The Journal of Phytopharmacology 2022; 11(2):75-78 Online at: www.phytopharmajournal.com Research Article ISSN 2320-480X JPHYTO 2022; 11(2): 75-78 March- April Received: 28-01-2022 Accepted: 15-03-2022 ©2022, All rights reserved doi: 10.31254/phyto.2022.11204 A Sandesh Krishna MSc Scholar, Department of Veterinary Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy-680651, Kerala, India Bimitha Benny MSc Scholar, Department of Veterinary Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy- 680651, Kerala, India Sujith Samraj Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy-680651, Kerala, India Preethy John Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode-673576, Kerala, India Uma Radhakrishnan Head, Department of Veterinary Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Veterinary and animal Sciences, Mannuthy-680651, Kerala, India Correspondence: Dr. Sujith Samraj Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy-680651, Kerala, India Email: sujith@kvasu.ac.in Modulatory potential of Tamarindus indica seed coat on oestrogen and progestogen secretion in MCF-7 cell lines A Sandesh Krishna, Bimitha Benny, Sujith Samraj, Preethy John, Uma Radhakrishnan ABSTRACT According to epidemiological research, the consumption of phytoestrogen rich foods has been shown to reduce the development of hormone dependent breast cancer. Phytoestrogens improved the efficacy of ongoing chemotherapy. Recent research indicates that polyphenols found in the tamarind seed coat have anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the modulatory potential of methanolic extract of seed coat of T. indica on oestrogen and progesterone production in MCF-7 cancer cell line. T. indica seeds were procured locally, shade dried and the seed coat was removed and extracted with methanol, followed by concentration of the extract using a rotary vacuum evaporator. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of seed coat extract was performed. The cytotoxicity of T. indica seed coat was assessed in MCF-7 cells using MTT assay and the IC50 was determined. The presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, phenolic compounds, diterpenes, saponins, glycosides and tannins were discovered by qualitative phytochemical analysis. T. indica seed coat decreased cell viability in a dose dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 16 μg/mL. There was dose dependent decrease in oestrogen concentration, whereas the progesterone concentration was found to be increased after 96hrs of treatment with the extract. From the study it could be concluded that methanolic extract of T. indica showed cytotoxicity in vitro against MCF-7 cell lines and it positively modulated progesterone secretion and negatively modulated oestrogen concentration in a time dependent fashion in MCF-7 cell lines. Present in vitro study shows that methanolic extract seed coat of T. indica may have promising role in breast cancer prevention, hence it can be used to develop novel compounds against hormone dependent breast cancer. Keywords: Tamarindus indica, Phytoestrogens, Breast Cancer, Oestrogen, Progesterone. INTRODUCTION The steroid hormones oestrogen and progesterone have important role in proliferation, aetiology and treatment of breast cancer. In the early stages of breast cancer treatment oophorectomy was used as an effective treatment, as three quarter of all breast cancers are dependent on steroid hormone for their differentiation and development. Extended exposure to steroid hormones due to late menopause, usage of oral contraceptives and obesity has transiently increased the risk of causing breast cancer. Thus, researchers are targeting the oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors and their selective modulation as an effective method for breast cancer treatment [1] . Phytochemicals have been known for their role in preventing cancer even back in ancient times through Ayurveda. The modern cancer treatment is very expensive and have many side effects. Phytoestrogens are plant derived compounds which possessed a phenolic ring and capable of binding to oestrogen receptor, they usually generate weak oestrogenic or antioestrogenic activity in mammals, by affecting the expression of oestrogen genes as they are structurally similar to mammalian 17 β estradiol. The most well-known phytoestrogens are isoflavones and flavones and are capable of binding to both ERα and ERβ receptors whose subsequent activation or repression of their transcriptional pathways [2] . The phytochemicals present in plants are also capable of inducing antiprogestin effects. Epidemiological studies imply that consuming a phytoestrogen-rich diet, as found in traditional Asian countries is connected with a decreased risk of breast and prostate cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease. Tamarindus indica belongs to the family Fabaceae, the fruit pulp of which are consumed widely and used in traditional medicines as laxatives, treatment of wounds, diarrhea, fever and malaria [3] . However limited studies have been conducted to find the modulatory potential of seed coat of T.indica on steroid hormone synthesis, the current study was conducted for the assessment of modulatory effect of T.indica seed coat extract on oestrogen and progesterone secretion in MCF-7 cells.