Studies of In vitro Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Extracts and Isolated Compounds from Parinari curatellifolia (Chrysobalanaceae)

Abstract

Parinari curatellifolia (family: chrysobalanaceae) is a plant used in Nigerian folk medicine for treatment of cancer and other diseases. In our search for pharmacologically active compounds, we have isolated and characterized compounds through column chromatography and spectroscopic techniques (MS, NMR and IR). We have evaluated the in vitro antioxidant activity of the different extracts and the pure compounds using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical model. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the extracts and the pure compounds using the sodium 3’-[1-(phenylamino-carbonyl) -3,4-tetrazolium]-bis-[4-methoxy-6-nitro] benzene sulfonic acid hydrate (XTT) colorimetric method on cervical cancer (HeLa) cell line have also been assessed. The extracts and pure compounds have displayed moderate to excellent antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.  The biological results suggest that these compounds may be suitable candidates for further drug development and investigation. The results obtained have provided a promising scientific basis for the use of P. curatellifolia in traditional medicine for treatment of cancer. Keywords: Parinari curatellifolia, Cytotoxicity, HeLa Cell line, Antioxidant, DPPH Free Radica