In vitro anti-cancer, anti-hypertensive and anti-hyperglycaemic effect of hypoxis colchicifolia

Abstract

Economic challenges associated with non-communicable diseases and the sociocultural outlook of many patients especially in Africa has increased the dependence on traditional herbal medicines for these diseases. Hypoxis colchicifolia is a traditional medicinal plant used in Southern Africa against an array of ailments. This study evaluated the in vitro anti-diabetic (α-amyalse and α-glucosidase), antihypertensive (angiotensin-converting enzyme) and anticancer potential of H. colchicifolia corm as well as leaf (acetone, methanol and aqueous) extracts. Results showed that extracts have a moderate anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive potential, with great anti-cancer potential. The acetone extract of both fresh and dried corms produced significant α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition with ACE inhibited predominantly by the dried corms methanolic extract (IC50 368.2 µg/mL). Methanolic extract of dried leaves showed the least cytotoxicity against the non-cancerous cell line HEK-293 while exhibiting the highest inhibition of MCF-7 cells (IC50 3.24 µg/mL). All extracts exhibited a greater inhibitory potential in A549 cells than the positive control camptothecin (IC50 304.2µg/mL). This study reveals that H. colchicifolia has therapeutic potential as an anti-diabetic and anticancer agent; however, further in vivo studies need to be conducted.