Identification of beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol in Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss leaf extract using HPLC and its estrogenic effect in vitro.

Focus of the study is to identify a safe alternate to Hormone Replacement Therapy by identifying the presence of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol in the hydroalcoholic extract of Bambusa bambos using HPTLC and RP-HPLC-PDA; by evaluating the estrogenic effects of extract containing β-sitosterol and stigmasterol on the growth of MCF-7 cells in vitro. Plant material was identified by DNA sequencing analysis. Presence of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol was confirmed by HPTLC and direct RP-HPLC-PDA. Peaks with retention time about 19.13 and 21.16min were found to be stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in extract. Extract was not cytotoxic to MCF-7 cells in any of the dilutions. It induced cell proliferation and all the dilutions except <500μg/ml have significantly increased cell multiplication. 15.6, 31.2, 62.5 and 125μg/ml of HEBB have shown influence on the proliferation rates similar to the standard 17β-estradiol. The results suggest that HEBB might be used as a safe alternative to estrogen replacement therapies.