In vitro cytotoxicity studies on Carissa congesta, Polyalthia longifolia, and Benincasa hispida extracts by Sulforhodamine B assay method

Abstract

Background: Indian medicinal plants have contributed to the growth of world’s ethnopharmacological heritage. Roots of Carissa
congesta (CC) powder are mixed with horse urine, lime juice, and camphor and used as remedies for relieving itching conditions, Polyalthia longifolia (PL) leaves are aromatic and used for decoration in festivals as sonamukhi and Benincasa hispida (BH) seeds provide treatment for cough and vitiated conditions of pitta. Aims of the Study: In the current studies, crude petroleum ether extracts (BH and CC) and ethanolic extract of (PL) were screened for in vitro cytotoxicity activity using different cell lines. Settings and Design: In the experiment, human colon cancer HCT15, human breast cancer MCF7 and human leukemia MOLT4 cell lines were studied on the extracts. Materials and Methods: The method used was Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay method in which growth inhibition of 50% (GI50) was analyzed by comparing it with
standard drug Adriamycin (ADR) (doxorubicin).

Results: The CC and PL extracts showed equivalent activity to ADR (doxorubicin) for human breast cancer cell line MCF7 and human leukemia cell line MOLT4 respectively. BH extract did not show satisfactory activity on selected cell lines. Conclusion: In the future, new cell lines may be screened in order to check the potency of CC, PL, and BH extracts.

Key words: Carissa congesta, hu