In vitro Cytotoxic, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Adoninia merrilli and Archontopheonix tukeri Fruit Pericarps

Abstract

Adonidia merrilli (Becc.) Becc. and Archontophoenix tuckeri are palms primarily cultivated for ornamental purposes due to their exotic appearance. A number of ornamental palms have been used in traditional medicine and scientifically explored to ascertain their medicinal value. Methanol extracts of A. merrilii and A. tuckeri pericarps were screened for phytochemicals, and tested for cytotoxicity against various human carcinoma cell lines, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity using standard protocols. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, deoxy sugars, cardiac glycosides and saponins. Total phenolics, flavonoids and tannin content were 52.05, 20.68, 2.58 mg/g and 40.58, 32.73, 3.09 mg/g for A. merrilli and A. tuckeri respectively. A. merrilli and A. tuckeri extracts demonstrated notable anti-proliferative activity against cervical (HeLa), lung (H460), breast (MCF-7) and prostate (PC-3) cancer cells at 30 µg/mL; A. merilli (52.90-66.51% kill; IC50: 26.53-29.70), A. tuckeri (55.62-62.21% kill; IC50: 18.73-.25.20). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (25-100 µg/mL) of the extracts against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae and Candida albicans were recorded. A. merrilli and A. tuckeri pericarp extracts contain potential bioactive compounds for phytomedicine and deserve further scientific investigations as the related ornamental palms, Livistona chinensis and Areca catechu. The chemical and biological studies of A. tukeri palm is reported for the first time.