Phytochemical analysis and anticancer activity of Majidea zanguebarica Kirk Ex Oliv

Abstract

Phytochemicals are secondary metabolites that are naturally produced by plants. The main aim of the study is to investigate the presence of phyto constituents in the flowers of Majidea zanguebarica through GC-MS analysis. Phytochemical screening was carried out using methanol, benzene, petroleum ether and chloroform extracts which revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, saponins, fatty acids, carbohydrates and cardio glycosides. GC-MS analysis of the methanolic flower extract evidenced that the presence of 28 compounds in the flowers of M. zanguebarica. The highest amount of carbohydrate and amino acid content were present in the methanolic flower extract 0.175 mg/g and 0.269 mg/g respectively. In vitro antioxidant activity such as DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity, reducing power of the methanolic extract of flowers were analyzed. Radical scavenging activity was found to be higher in the methanolic extract of flowers. In MTT assay, IC50 value for methanolic flower extract found to be 25 µg/ml concentration. In DNA fragmentation study, the maximum DNA fragments was observed in the high concentration of methanolic flower extract. It was concluded that the methanolic flower extract has the tendency to activate the cell death process in the treated cells. This investigation might be further evaluated for its anticancer potential in a significant level.