Phytochemical screening and cytotoxic evaluation from leaf extracts of combretum quadrangulare and clerodendrum inerme on MCF-7 and HEPG2 cancer cell lines

Abstract

Cancer is the second most common disease causing human deaths worldwide. Recent studies have disclosed that medicinal plants exhibit anti cancer activity through various mechanisms. The present study is aimed at determining cytotoxicities from the leaf extracts of C. quadrangulare and C. inerme, and investigating their extracted secondary metabolites. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of phyto-constituents such as phenols, flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoids, saponins, and steroids in C. quadrangulare leaves whereas alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, triterpenoids, saponins, and steroids were found in C. inerme leaves. The results indicated a different level of cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and HepG2 cancer cell lines using C. quadrangulare and C. inerme crude or fractionated extracts. Ethyl acetate extraction in both medicinal materials demonstrated higher cytotoxicity.