Premilinary Phytochemical Screening and Invitro Anti –Cancer Activity of Stem Extract of Basella Alba L.

Abstract

Cancer is a multifactorial disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation, genetic alterations, and the potential for invasion and metastasis, representing a major global health burden. Despite significant advances in conventional treatment modalities such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and targeted therapy, their clinical application is often limited by adverse side effects, high costs, and the development of drug resistance. These limitations have intensified the search for safer, cost-effective, and more efficient therapeutic alternatives, particularly from natural sources. Medicinal plants have long been recognized as valuable reservoirs of bioactive compounds with diverse pharmacological activities, including anticancer potential. Basella alba L., commonly known as Malabar spinach, is a widely distributed tropical plant traditionally used for its nutritional and medicinal properties. It is rich in essential nutrients and phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, and other secondary metabolites, which are known to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and ant proliferative activities. In view of its therapeutic significance, the present study was designed to evaluate the phytochemical profile and in-vitro anticancer potential of Basella alba L. stem extracts. The plant material was collected, authenticated, and subjected to shade drying followed by size reduction into coarse powder. Successive solvent extraction was carried out using petroleum ether, methanol, and ethyl acetate through the cold maceration technique. Preliminary phytochemical screening was performed using standard qualitative methods to identify major classes of bioactive constituents. The anticancer activity of the extracts was evaluated against MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines using the MTT assay, a widely accepted method for assessing cell viability and cytotoxicity. This study aims to provide scientific insight into the phytochemical composition and potential anticancer activity of Basella alba L., thereby contributing to the development of plant-based therapeutic agents for cancer management.