Abstract

Bioactive compounds present in Parkia javanica seeds are reported to have anticancer effect. The present study was taken up to evaluate the apoptosis inducing ability of methanol extract of Parkia javanica seeds in cancer cells. The extract was found to cause 50 % cell death in HeLa and MCF-7 cells at 0.54 and 0.74 mg/ml, respectively, which is lower than that of normal healthy cells. In haematoxylin-eosin and fluorescent staining of the extract-treated cancer cells, chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation were observed. Fluorescent-activated cell sorting analysis using Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide also revealed the presence of apoptotic and secondary necrotic cell populations in the extract-treated cancer cells. In gel electrophoresis, DNA fragmentation, a biochemical hallmark of apoptosis was also observed. Caspase-3, an enzyme activated both in extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis was detected in extract-treated HeLa cells by immunocytochemistry. The results of the present study suggested that Parkia javanica seed has the ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells and could be considered in future endeavours for development of safer natural anticancer agent.