Investigation of Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxic Effect of Stem of Anthocleista djalonensis

Aim: To investigate the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of stem of A. djalonensis.

Study Design: The study assessed the antiradical potential of the stem bark of A. djalonensis and determined the cytotoxic effect of the plant extracts using Allium cepa root growth inhibition and Brine Shrimp lethality assays.

Methodology: The stem bark of A. djalonensis was extracted in cold solvents using hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water. The free radical scavenging activity of the plants extracts was determined using DPPH scavenging assay. The extracts cytotoxicity was studied by means of Allium cepa root growth inhibition and then Brine Shrimp lethality assays using vincristine sulphate as the standard drug.

Results: The ethanol extract of A. djalonensis showed the highest free radical scavenging activity (14.24 ± 2.80 µg/ mL) while the remaining extracts of the plant exhibited varying free radical scavenging activities (14.24 to 29.91 µg/ mL). The extracts restrained the growth of A. cepa after 72 hr of the study at p< 0.01. Similarly, the extracts showed varying cytotoxic effect against newly hatched brine shrimps. The ethanol extract had the highest cytotoxic value (IC50) of 296.68 µg/ mL while hexane extract had the lowest (422.80 µg/ mL).

Conclusion: The extracts of stem of A. djalonensis are potential antioxidant and cytotoxic agents and may be relevant in the management of free radical provoking diseases such as cancer.