Phytochemical, antioxidant, cytotoxicity, antiproliferative and antimicrobial studies of <i>Securinega virosa</i> aerial parts extract

Abstract

Cancer and infectious diseases are leading causes of death, globally. Securinega virosa is locally used for the manage ent of cancerous tumour and  infectious diseases. This study was designed to investigate the phytochemical consituents of the plant’s aerial parts and determine the antioxidant, antiproliferative and cytotoxic properties of theextract using standard laboratory procedures. The plant was collected and the aerial parts was extracted with methanol. The extract was found to contain alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and cardiac glycosides. It displayed potent antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 0.018±0.002 mg/mL compared to ascorbic acid (0.008±0.001 mg/mL) and was nontoxic to brine shrimp. The extract displayed potent antiproliferative activity with an IC50 value of 1.50±0.037 mg/mL compared to the value for cyclophosphamide, 0.55±0.043 mg/mL in Allium cepa root growth inhibitory assay. The extract displayed potent activities (IC50 = 11.31±0.18 and 7.23±0.01 μg/mL) on RD and Hep-2C cancer cells, respectively, compared to cyclophosphamide (IC50 = 0.32±0.18 and 2.56±0.13 μg/mL). The extract also displayed some antibacterial and anti-fungi activities with up to 10 and 14 mm zones of inhibition against Escherichia coli, Citrobacter ferundii at 0.625 mg/disc, respectively. Securinega virosa extract displayed antioxidant, antiproliferative, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities and the plant maybe considered a viable candidate for discovery of chemotherapeutic agent(s).

Keywords: Securinega virosa, Cancer cell lines, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, Antimicrobial