Combinational effect of Eleutherine palmifolia (L.) merr extract and doxorubicin chemotherapy on HeLa cervical cancer cells

Abstract

Eleutherine palmifolia (L.) Merr (E. palmifolia) is a typical Central Borneo plant that empirically has many benefits in the health sector. E. palmifolia is known to have flavonoids which have anticancer activities. Cancer is the leading cause of death throughout the world with the most cancer cases, namely breast and cervical cancer. One of the reasons for cancer failure is due to resistance to the use of chemotherapy drugs. One way to overcome to combine chemotherapy agents with chemoprevention agents from natural products. This study aims to evaluate the potential combination of doxorubicin and extract E. palmifolia on anticancer activity and HeLa cell apoptosis induction. Single anticancer activities and combinations were determined by using the MTT method. The effect of the combination on apoptosis induction known by the flow cytometry method. The results showed that the anticancer activity of the best combination obtained by a combination of 50 ppm doxorubicin and extract E. palmifolia 100 ppm. The apoptosis test results showed that the best combination of doxorubicin and extract E. palmifolia could not increase the apoptosis of HeLa cervical cancer cells.