Abstract

Cancers are the uncontrolled growth of cells or tumors, and it is one of the leading causes of death all over the world. Currently, available synthetic drugs such as cisplatin, doxorubicin and fluorouracil are reported to have notable side effects in living tissues (skin irritations, dry and cracked skin, and mouth sores). So researchers are scrutinizing for alternative medications to overcome these side effects. Plants are one of the vital sources of alternative medicines with less toxicity and may overcome these side-effects of synthetic drugs. The study evaluated cytotoxicity and antioxidant potential on methanolic and aqueous extract of Pittosporum dasycaulon leaves. In the present study of cytotoxicity, the selected extracts were screened against two cancer cell lines (human liver cancer cells and Lymph cancer cell-Dalton's lymphoma ascites ascites). Two normal cells, intestinal epithelial-6, and Rat spleen were used to test cytotoxicity by using the trypan blue exclusion method and 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The antiradical activity was also evaluated with its half maximal inhibitory concentration. The content of total phenolic, flavonoid and saponins was also estimated. The present study displayed leaves methanolic extract found to have a significant rate of cell death against cancer cell lines (Dalton's lymphoma ascites and human liver cancer cells) with lethal concentration 50 values ranging from 8.21±0.3 to 55.65±0.11 μg/ml. However, the same extract had very less cytotoxicity even in higher doses against non- cancerous intestinal cell lines (intestinal epithelial-6) and rat spleen cell lines ranging from 389.50±0.6 to 1800.00±0.1 μg/ml. The quantitative analysis of leaf methanolic extract showed a high level of saponins and phenolic compounds. Therefore, leaves of Pittosporum dasycaulon Miq are a promising candidate for natural antioxidant as well as anticancer components. Hence, further extensive study urges to evaluate the mechanism as well as to investigate of individual components responsible for cytotoxicity and antiradical potential.