Chemical compositions and anticancer activity of yemeni plant flemingia grahamiana Wight & Arn. and myrtus communis L.

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the world's leading causes of death so, there is considerable scientific interest in the continuing discovery of new anticancer products from natural sources. In the present study chemical composition of methanol extracts of F. grahamiana and M. communis was assessed by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the GC-MS analysis of methanol extracts, 21 phytochemical compounds were identified in F. grahamiana, and 20 compounds in M. communis. The major constituents in F. grahamiana were Cyclohexasiloxane, dodecamethyl-(21.24%), Benzoic acid, 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl ester (11.79%), and Cycloheptasiloxane, tetradecamethyl (11.06%), and in M. communis were Phenol, 3,4-dimethoxy-(24.41%), 3-Buten-2-one, 4-(2,2,6-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo [4.1.0]hept-1-yl)-(17.44%), and 2-Propanamine,N-(1-methylethyl)-N-nitroso-(8.92%). Further, the anticancer activity of methanol and aqueous extracts of these plants was estimated against MCF-7 cell lines by the MTT method In vitro. Extracts showed a potent anticancer effect in MCF-7 cells. The highest anticancer activity was recorded of aqueous and methanol extracts of M. communis with IC50 20.49 ± 0.29 and 22.10 ± 0.22 µg/ml, respectively. But extracts F. grahamiana showed moderate anticancer activity and need concentrations of more than 25 µg/ml to inhibit the growth of 50 % of cells. Our study suggests a promising potential for these plants, as anticancer. However, further studies including pharmacological evaluation, and in vivo anticancer activity are required.