In vitro cytotoxic activity against human hepatoma HepG2 cells, antioxidant activity, total phenol and flavonoid content of methanol extracts from four plants in Bay Nui, An Giang Province

Abstract

Liver cancer has become a common cancer in Viet Nam and in the world. The in vitro study of the cytotoxicity on hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 is important for testing for active substances that are actually useful in treating liver cancer. In this study, based on literature and folk herbal knowledge in the use of Vietnamese medicinal herbs to treat cancer and liver diseases, we have evaluated cytotoxicity against HepG2, antioxidant capicity, total flavonoid and phenol content of methanol extracts from Luvunga scandens leaves (RLD1), Hyptis suaveolens (L.) roots (RLD9), Solanum torvum (Sw.) leaves (RLD10) and Zingiber zerumbet (L.) rhizomes (RLD7R). As a result, at 100 mg/L concentration of the extracts, RLD1 and RLD9 demonstrated the highest cytotoxicity with cell survival rate less than 27%. While RLD1 sample showed weak antioxidant capacity (IC50 = 426.275 0.005 mg/L), RLD9 possessed the stronger antioxidant activity (IC50 = 24.320 0.031 mg/L) as well as the highest total phenol content (97.441.46 mg GAE/g extract). Although RLD7R sample did not show any cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cells, it exhibited a strong antioxidant potential (IC50 = 21.326 0.083 mg/L), associated with the highest total flavonoid content (63.13 14.30 mg QE/g extract). This study has demonstrated that Luvunga scandens leaves and Hyptis suaveolens roots have potential in liver cancer treatment.