Sterols from Cyathea Bicrenata Liebm Rhizome and their Breast Cancer Activity in vitro and in silico Evaluation

Herbal infusions are considered as a kind of therapeutic approach that aids, and in many cases replaces, conventional pharmacological treatments. However, the identification of its compounds and their activities in human health continue to be the subject of multidisciplinary research. This research aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the sterols fraction isolated from Cyathea bicrenata Liebm ( Cyatheae ) rhizome in MCF-7 carcinoma cell line and simulate their blocking effect in the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. The sterols fraction was isolated by solid phase extraction (SPE). Mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to analyze the fraction containing a high concentration of sterols.). Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay method. Binding energy and the stability of sterols trajectories on pro apoptotic Bcl-2 protein active site was carried on by in silico simulation. Six sterols were identified. The sterol-rich fraction showed a cytotoxicity (IC _50-24h)  = 157.79 micrograms per milliliter (µg/ml) and IC _50-48h =120.23 µg/ml for the MCF-7 line. The sterol-rich fraction generated an apoptotic response in the MCF-7 cell line; while the control cell line (normal human epithelial cell, HMEC) exhibited a lower response. The sterols from C. bicrenata rhizome exhibited properties as an alternative pharmacological treatment of human breast cancer.