Phytochemicals Study, Antioxidant and Cytotoxicity Properties of Hydnophytum formicarum (Kepala beruk) Leaves against HepG2 and HeLa Cell Lines

Abstract

Study on phytochem antioxidant and cytotoxicity properties of Hydnophytum formicarum leaves against HepG2 and HeLa cancer cell lines were described. The leaves were dried in a freeze dryer and successively extracted using hexane and methanol. Phytochems screening revealed the presence of several compounds including phenols/tannins, flavonoids, glycosides and steroids. Antioxidant property was examined using DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Methanol extract exhibited higher antioxidant activity (IC50=0.4 mg/mL) compared to hexane extract (IC50=2 mg/mL). However, the cytotoxicity result by MTT assay showed only methanol extract exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell line (IC50=25 mg/mL). Both extracts showed no cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cell line. This study suggests that H. formicarum leaves have potency as a new source of antioxidant and anticancer agents,especially for cervical cancer. However, further study to sep. the bioactive compounds of the extract and by using different cell lines is required to discover the potential of H. formicarum leaves as antioxidant and anticancer agents.