PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, PROXIMATE ANALYSIS AND ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC SEED EXTRACT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a native tree which has been reported to have medicinal properties. The leaves and the seeds were traditionally reported for the treatment of peltic ulcers and have an anti-cancer properties. The objectives of this study was to carry the phytochemical screening, proximate analysis and anti-cancer activity of the seed ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera (Lam). The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, Saponin, Alkaloids, Steroids and terpenoids and the results of proximate analysis in methanolic Moringa oleifera leaves extract shows relatively low moisture content (9.21%) and low protein content (6.22%), however, it shows high carbohydrate content (49.60%) and high fibre content (23.77%).  The anti-cancer activity of the ethanolic seed extract of Moringa oleifera seed was evaluated against HL-60 Cancer cell line (Human T-promyelocytic leukemia), MCF-7 Cancer cell lines (Human breast cancer), HeLa Cancer cell line (Human cervical carcinoma cancer) and mouse embryonic fibroblast normal cell line (3T3) lines with with IC₅₀ values of 8.51, 8.62, 12.33 and 2.78 µg/ml respectively. These findings suggested that Moringa oleifera seeds possess anti-cancer properties which have the potential to contribute to its ethno-medicinal uses.