Cytotoxicity Studies of the Extracts, Fractions, and Isolated Compound of Pseudocedrela kotschyi on Cervical Cancer (HeLa), Breast Cancer (MCF-7) and Skeletal Muscle Cancer (RD) Cells.

Abstract

Background:This study determined the cytotoxic effects of root and stem bark extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds derived from Pseudocedrela kotschyi on HeLa, MCF-7, and RD cells.Materials and Methods:The cytotoxic activity was determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide colorimetric assay against three cell lines (RD, HeLa, and MCF 7) at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1000 μg/mL. Isolation of crude saponin was done from the most active ethyl acetate fraction and further purified using vacuum liquid chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatographic techniques.Results:The cytotoxicity assay revealed that the methanol extract from the root bark and the ethyl acetate fraction from the stem bark exhibited marked anticancer activity with IC50 of 87.36 μg/ml and 21.53 μg/ml, respectively, on HeLa cancer cell line and 101.51 μg/mL and 38.46 μg/mL, respectively, on RD cell line. These values are comparable with that obtained from vinblastine and methotrexate used as standard drugs (IC50 values of 0.01 μg/mL and 0.05 μg/mL, respectively). The isolated crude saponins also gave IC50 values of 5.28 μg/mL and 81.52 μg/mL against the RD cell lines and IC50values of 1.05 μg/mL and 86.8 μg/mL for the MCF 7 cancer cell lines. PTLC led to the isolation of a compound from the crude saponin which was identified as 7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin through spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature data.Conclusions:P. kotschyi could be considered as a potential source of chemotherapeutic agent. However, further research to determine the exact mechanism of action needs to be carried out.SUMMARY Pseudocedrela kotschyi methanol extract from the root bark and the ethyl acetate fraction from the stem bark exhibited marked anticancer activity on HeLa, MCF-7, and RD cell lines7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin isolated as a white crystalline substance from the most active ethyl acetate fraction contributed to the observed activity. Abbreviations Used: MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; TLC: Thin layer chromatography; VLC: Vacuum liquid chromatography; PTLC: Preparative thin layer chromatographic; NMR: Nuclear magnetic resonance; FBS: Fetal bovine serum; DMEM: Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; PBS: Phosphate buffer saline; FHI: Forest Herbarium Ibadan; DMSO: Dimethylsuphoxide; SEM: Standard error of mean