Medicinal plants continue to attract increasing attention because of their potential benefits in the field of medicine and pharmacology. The present study was prompted by claims that the Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius) is traditionally used in regions of South America to alternatively treat many conditions, including certain types of cancer. Recently, the study of antioxidant levels in plants has received a great deal of attention because it is widely believed that increased oxidative stress and free radical levels in the body lead to the progression of diseases. A 50:50 v/v ethanolic/aqueous extract prepared from the bark of the Brazilian pepper tree exhibited high levels of antioxidant activity in DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl), Total Phenolic Content TPC, and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power FRAP assays. Furthermore, the same bark extract inhibited breast cancer cell migration in vitro. Scratch migration assays, performed on invasive BT549 triple-negative breast tumor cells, demonstrated that the average migration velocity of cells treated with bark extract was significantly decreased compared to untreated control cells. In order to study and identify the bioactive molecules contributing to this effect, the extract was fractionated via column chromatography, and the fractions were tested in migration assays. Fractions that retained anti-migratory activity and crude bark extracts were analyzed by GC-Mass Spectrometry. The results of these experiments will be presented.

Chromatography and fractionation of Schinus terebinthifolius extracts which inhibit breast cancer cell migration in vitro

2019 Spring National Meeting

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