THE ANTICARCINOGENIC AND ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS OF BITTER KOLA (GARCINIA KOLA) EXTRACT ON MCF-7 HUMAN BREAST CANCER CELL LINE

Bitter kola (Garcinia kola) is native to West Africa herbal seed. It belongs to the plant family, Clusiaceae. Several parts of the G. kola plant (bark, root, leaf, seed and fruit) have been used in traditional medicine for managing various ailments such as bronchitis, colds, fever, laryngitis, cough, liver disease and bacterial infections. The anticarcinogenic, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antioxidant and chemo-preventive properties of G. kola have previously been reported. The plant contains bioactive compounds such as tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, proteins, phenolics and saponins. Other compounds isolated from the seeds of G. kola includes kolaviron. Previous study has been shown the potential anticarcinogenic effect of natural antioxidants extract on human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7. This study was conducted to determine the antioxidant potential and antimicrobial potential of bitter kola on MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma and MCF-10A cell line. Results may suggest that bitter kola treatment will induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cell line.