IN VITRO TESTING OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF LUFFA AEGYPTIACA MILL PLANT (CUCURBITACEAE)

Abstract

Determination of in-vitro effect of Methanol extract of Luffa aegyptiaca seeds and husk on Tadpoles and Sorghum bicolor radicles has been carried out in this research. The research was carried out to find a local remedy for tumor with the anticipation of possible anticancer constituents. The in-vitro cytotoxicity testing of the methanol extract of L. aegyptiaca seeds and husk on Tadpoles at concentrations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 30mg/ml and Dimethylsulphuroxide (DMSO) was used as Negative control, the result obtained was 23%, 0%, 10% mortality at 1% concentrations within 27minutes and 76%, 63% and 60% mortality at 24hours respectively. While the in-vitro antiproliferative testing of the seeds and husk of L. aegyptiaca part methanol extract carried out at 1mg/ml, 30 mg/ml also inhibited the growth of Sorghum radicles by 99.2% (husk), 98.7% (seeds) and 97.6% (leaf) at 96 hour.The Luffa methanol extract (LAM) exhibited a concentration defendant cytotoxic effect (LD50 = 18 µg/ml) and (LC50 = 20 µg/ml) inhibition of the growth of guinea corn radicles. The phytochemical screening results revealed that the plant parts contained alkaloid, flavonoids, glycosides and tannins. The results obtained from these studies show that methanol extract of the L. aegyptiaca parts have cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects on Tadpoles and Sorghum radicles. The findings testified the basis for the traditional uses of the plant to treat inflammations and tumor related ailments as practiced in Hausa traditional medicine and suggest the probable use of the plant in preparing recipes for tumor-related ailments.

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