The effectiveness of semi-wild Sumatran mango (Mangifera spp.) leaves as a phytotherapy agent for breast cancer

Breast cancer ranks first in the world, standing at a mortality rate of 24.5% per year and is the leading cause of cancer death in Indonesia. The current management of breast cancer therapy is considered less effective because of its careful use due to side effects that are detrimental to the patient. The semi-wild species from Sumatra are neglected and underutilized species but have the potential as a therapeutic agent. Previous research has revealed that this species of mango is high in antioxidant compounds. This study was carried out to discover the anticancer activities of the semi-wild mango species via inhibitory activities and morphological changes in Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) cells. The IC50 value of Mangifera sumatrana, Mangifera foetida, and Mangifera laurina leaves in n-hexane, ethyl-acetate, and methanol extracts was determined using the reagent 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance using IBM SPSS Statistics 21. M. laurina n-hexane extracts exhibited anticancer activity (IC50 13.25 ppm). Nonpolar solutions were chosen as the most effective extraction solvent in anticancer tests because lipids in nonpolar solvents can hit the lipid bilayer. A hexane fraction was created by separating the majority of nonpolar fatty acid esters, and this fraction had a considerable impact on cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on MCF-7 cells. Therefore, all treatments can transform MCF-7 cells’ morphology into blackened dead cells that are degraded into small parts, such as apoptotic bodies in cells undergoing apoptotic processes. MTT assays against MCF-7 on three species of semi-wild Sumatran mango in different extraction solvents showed that n-hexane extracts of M. laurina had stronger anticancer activity than other samples. This study provides new information to support the development of standardized herbal medicines and phytopharmaca in the future.