590ANTI-PROLIFERATIVE EFFECT OF AMARANTHUS VIRIDIS LINN. ON HUMAN LEUKEMIC CELL LINES- A PRELIMINARY STUDYThe aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical and total phenolic content, the antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of 50% ethanolic extracts of Amaranthus virdis Linn. leaves (AVL) and stem (AVS), using standard methods. Phytochemical analysis showed that the aqueous ethanolic extracts from the stems and leaves were rich in tannins, saponins, general glycosides, alkaloids and terpenoids. The leaf extract showed a significantly higher phenolic content and higher antioxidant activity compared to the stem extracts. From the MTT assay, it was observed that all the extracts had antiproliferative activity against 3 human leukemic cell lines (Jurkat, CEM and HL-60). The AVL had IC50 value of 111.41 µg/ml (JURKAT), 122.5 µg/ml (HL-60) and >1000 µg/ml (CEM). The AVS had comparatively lower anti-proliferative activity with IC50 values of 651.52 µg/ml (JURKAT), 813.5 µg/ml (HL-60) and >1000 μg/ml (CEM). It was also observed that, both extracts enhanced the proliferation of normal cells while the standard curcumin had an anti-proliferative effect on both leukemic and normal cells. It can be concluded that the AVL had better antioxidant and anti-proliferative effect and could further be explored as a novel source of cancer therapyekowlarbie@gmail.comResearch632015Anti-proliferative,Antioxidant,Amaranthus viridis Linn,Phenolic,PhytochemicalLarbie Christopher,Appiah-Opong Regina,Acheampong Felix,Tuffour Isaac,UtoTakuhiroDepartment of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Department of Clinical Pathology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra,Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Department of Clinical Pathology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra,Department of Pharmacognosy, Nagasaki International University, 2825-7 Huis Ten Bosch-Cho, Sasebo-shi Nagasaki, 859-3298 Japan