Phytochemical Profiling and Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Alpinia calcarata Against MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

Aims: This study aimed to examine the phytochemical constituents of the medicinal plant Alpinia calcarata and evaluate the efficacy of the ethanolic extract of A. calcarata in the treatment of the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.
Materials & Methods: Fresh samples were taken for maceration extraction. A magnetic laboratory shaker was used to extract dried powdered ginger rhizome with 96% ethanol for 4 hours. The extract was balanced and dissolved in DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide). The prepared extracts underwent phytochemical screening and analysis by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). MTT assay was used to assess cell viability in the presence of different concentrations of A. calcarata extract (12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL) over a 24-hour period.
Findings: Preliminary phytochemical screening and GC–MS analysis of the ethanolic extract of A. calcarata showed the presence of several bioactive phytocompounds like terpenoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and aromatic derivatives, which are recognized for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. The IC50 value of the ethanolic extract of A. calcarata against MCF7 cells after 24 hours of treatment was 47.25 µg/mL.
Conclusion: The study revealed the presence of significant phytochemical constituents in the ethanolic extract of AC, having promising anticancer activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The overall findings indicate that the bioactive compounds found could serve as a valuable foundation for novel plant-derived cancer treatments.