Phyto-chemicals and Spectral Characterization of Novel Glaucarubinone Quassinoid from Simarouba glauca Leaves: In vitro Anti-proliferative Potential against Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell line

Background: Simarouba glauca belonging to the Simaroubaceae family and rich in quassinoids was traditionally used to treat cancer. Our aim is to quantify quassinoid in its leaf’s bioactive extract and perform in vitro screening to assess its potential against breast cancer. Materials and Methods: The ultrasonic assisted extraction was used to prepare chloroform, methanol and aqueous leaf extracts of Simarouba glauca, phytochemical and spectral characterizations were performed. The quassinoid enriched methanol fraction was subjected to an in vitro anti-proliferative assay against MDA-MB 231 breast adenocarcinoma cell line. Results: The fingerprint analysis indicated that glaucarubinone was isolated from methanol fraction 4 of Simarouba glauca leaf with an Rf value of 0.22, closer to the standard Rf (0.24). Liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy analysis indicated that the isolated glaucarubinone peak was observed at m/z 496.33 g/mol [M+H]. In vitro cytotoxicity assay results showed that all three extracts were proved cytotoxic in nature, with IC50 values of 123.05 μg/mL, 117.81 μg/ mL and 155.06 μg/mL respectively on the breast adenocarcinoma cell line. Conclusion: This study concluded that glaucarubinone quassinoid is present in the methanol fraction. Further, it possessed anti-cancer potential against MDA-MB 231 breast adenocarcinoma cell line.