Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Two Cameroonian Herbal Plants of Genus Triumfetta rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica Using the MTT and Neutral Red Assays

摘要

The use of herbal plants in Cameroonian ethno-medicine has been gained some importance in the treatment of various illnesses and many studies on these plants well documented. Hundreds of plant species, and their extracts, are used in developing countries to treat numerous diseases despite the fact that only a small number are approved for therapeutic use by the FDA. For instance, some species of the Triumfetta rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica genus have been used in the treatment of infectious diseases, abdominal pain and as anti-inflammatory agents. However, the cytotoxic effects of these plants have not been studied in detail, nor have their molecular structures been identified. The study objective was to investigate the cytotoxic effects of these medicinal plants using both MTT and neutral red assays. This was experimental analytical studies conducted with two herbal plants identified by the national herbarium centre for authentication. To determine the cytotoxic effects of the plant species, Hep G2 cells were exposed to extracts taken from plant species at concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μg/ml and the cytotoxic effects determined using both MTT and Neutral Red assays. Using both MTT and Neutral Red assays, the cytotoxicity of each plant species was determined. Cells treated with all other extracts of the plant species, cytotoxic effects were observed in at least one concentration tested. Results obtained for the MTT assay for cells treated with various concentrations of the methanol crude extract of the leaf of T. rhomboidea and Dorstenia elliptica showed a significant difference between control samples and those treated with 1μg/ml, 10μg/ml and 100μg/ml of sample. In addition, significant differences were observed between samples treated with 0.1μg/ml and 10μg/ml and 100μg/ml of sample. Results obtained for the neutral red assay for this species showed no significant difference in absorbance levels between control samples, and those treated with any concentration of the plant extract tested. However, significant differences were detected for this species in the neutral red assay between samples treated with 0.1μg/ml of extract and 10μg/ml extract, in addition to significant differences being detected in samples treated with 0.1μg/ml and 100μg/ml of extract. Other plant species tested during this study may not be suitable for use in medicine because of their potential cytotoxic effects.