Available online www.jocpr.com Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2016, 8(7):683-688 Research Article ISSN : 0975-7384 CODEN(USA) : JCPRC5 683 Evaluation of in vitro anticancer activity of Terminalia chebula and Identification of Phytocompounds by GC MS analysis Deena Priscilla H. 1 and Jasmine R.* 2 1 Research Scholar, Dept. of Biotechnology, Bishop Heber College, Trichy-17 2 Asst. Professor, Dept. of Biotechnology, Bishop Heber College, Trichy-17 ABSTRACT The present study was aimed to evaluate the potential of the ethanolic extract of Terminalia chebula in mitigating breast cancer, which is crippling several women around the world. We have identified the phytochemicals and confirmed by GC-MS studies. Further investigations were carried out to determine the anticancer activity of the extract invitro by MTT assay and antioxidant activity by Reducing Power assay. The results obtained were found to be effective in authenticating the pharmacological nature of T. chebula. In this effort, we have surfaced with a promising potential therapeutic agent as a part of our research work. Our observations are suggestive of the fact that this extract could ably serve as a drug candidate for further research, being a harbinger of hope to cancer patients. Keywords: Breast cancer, Terminalia chebula, MTT assay, GC-MS, Antioxidant INTRODUCTION Cancer is a multifactorial disease that involves modulation of multiple pathways and targets. In India, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women and the risk of its incidence is increasing every year [1]. There are various treatment approaches that have been aimed towards the treatment of the disease but the success rate of the chemotherapeutic drugs are reported to be low with high rate of recurrence and various side effects. Although several drugs are generally well tolerated and effective, they have been found to cause many adverse side effects. This necessitates the need to evolve alternative therapies, such as herbal therapy. Herbal medicine derives its properties mainly from plants or extracts to provide cure and treat illness [2]. It is also known as Phytotherapy or Phytomedcine. There is not widespread clinical data to support the proven effect of plant remedies to cure cancer. So, an approach was made to test the effectiveness of the ethanolic extract of the fruits of Terminalia chebula for its potential to develop as an anticancer drug in future. Inorder to identify the compounds present in the extract we relied upon GC-MS studies which would help proceed further with our research work providing deeper understanding and greater insights into the possible anticancer constituent present in the plant. The extract was screened for its phytochemical, cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity to provide supportive evidence to the findings observed from GC-MS. The secondary metabolites of plants are grouped according to their chemical structures and properties as alkaloids, flavonoids, anthroquinones, phenolic compounds, cortico steroids, essential oils etc., [3]. Some medicinal plants contain a wide variety of natural antioxidants, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins, which possess more potent antioxidant activity than dietary plants. Many investigations indicate that these compounds are of great value in preventing the onset and/or progression of many human diseases. [4].