Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Canarium ovatum Engl. (Burseraceae) and Cocos nucifera L. (Arecaceae) Ethanolic Bark Extracts

Abstract

To further elucidate the potential of the pili and coconut barks in terms of their anticancer activity, their crude extracts were subjected to the sea urchin fertilization assay and Allium cepa test. These tests were conducted in order to determine the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity activities against the test subjects. The generated IC50 values are 0.54 mg/ml and 0.20 mg/ml for Canarium ovatum and Cocos nucifera, respectively. The sea urchin egg cells possess strong sensitivity against toxic agents as well as onion root cells which display the genetic correspondence of the cells affected by noxious substances. Canarium ovatum crude bark extracts exhibited a significant inhibition activity (p < 0.0001) against the sea urchin egg cell fertilization whereas the Cocos nucifera bark extracts did not show any significant inhibition. In terms of its genotoxicity, Canarium ovatum crude bark extracts exhibited a significant inhibition on the mitotic indexes and increased the frequency of aberrations in the onion root cells whereas no significant inhibition on the mitotic indexes of the root cells was observed among those treated with Cocos nucifera. Phytochemical screening results of Canarium ovatum crude bark extracts presented abundant compounds such as flavonoids, phenols, tannins and with traces of saponins. For the Cocos nucifera crude bark extracts, compounds such as saponins were found abundant with traces of flavonoids, phenols, tannins, diterpenes and terpenoids. The results indicated that Canarium ovatum possess anti-proliferative potential as exhibited in the two assays while Cocos nucifera possess toxic potentials at certain concentrations. Further studies are needed to validate the results of the present investigation.