Cytotoxic Activity of the Ethyl Acetate Extract of Iraqi Carica papaya Leaves in Breast and Lung Cancer Cell Lines

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the ethyl acetate fraction of Iraqi Carica papaya (C. papaya) in breast and lung cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and A549, respectively. METHODS: The ethyl acetate extract of Iraqi C. papaya leaves was prepared and tested for its phytochemical constitution. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazoline-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed in breast (MCF-7) and lung (A549) cells lines that were treated with different concentrations of ethyl acetate extract (3.125,6.25,12.5, 25, 50, and 100μg/ml). After 72 hrs of treatment, cell viability was evaluated. RESULTS: The ethyl acetate extract of C. papaya showed considerable cytotoxic activity in the MCF-7 and A549 cell lines. The activity was dose-dependent; The half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values were 22.74μg/ml and 8.674 μg/ml in the MCF-7 and A549 cell lines, respectively. CONCLUSION : The ethyl acetate fraction of Iraqi C. papaya leaves has potential anticancer activity in lung and breast cancer.