Antioxidant Profiling of Triticum aestivum (wheatgrass) and its Antiproliferative Activity In MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to put forward the scientific evidences of wheatgrass as an alternative therapy to treat cancer. The aim was to investigate the antiproliferative effects of wheatgrass extract on the selected model of breast cancer cells i.e. MCF-7 cell line and effect of extraction medium and sample preparation on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of wheatgrass plant. Antioxidant properties of different wheatgrass extracts were studied by estimating Total Phenol Content (TPC), DPPH ((1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) Assay. Significant antiproliferative effect and cell death was observed in a dose dependent manner of wheatgrass extract on MCF-7 cells. The results indicates that TAC of the samples processed with one step procedure is more substantial as compared to two step procedure and three step procedure. The best results were obtained when the one -step procedure for sample preparation and 70 % ethanol (ethanolic) as an extracting agent were applied. Thus, this study provides preliminary data about the anticancer activity of wheatgrass extract and its potential to be considered as an anticancer agent.