Cytotoxic Activity of Tegari (Dianella nemorosa Lam; Liliaceae) Leaves Methanol Extract from Papua Against Human Cells Lines In Vitro

Abstract

Cancer is one of deathly diseases in the world. Many people conversely attempt to employ traditional medicine for primary health care, especially from Plants. Dianella nemorosa Lam. has their own local name in Papua, pra kepey and belongs to the Liliaceae family. It is one of the anticancer plants that is empirical efficacious usage. The aim of the research was to find out cytotoxic activity of methanol extract of D. nemorosa leaves against selected human cell line namely hormone-dependent breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7), human breast carcinoma cell line (T-47D), colon carcinoma cell line (WiDR) and human-ßlymphoma cell line (Raji Cell). Leaves powder were extracted using methanol. Cytotoxic assay of the methanol extract was done using MTT [3-(4,5-dimetilthiazol-2-il)-2,5- difeniltetrazolium bromida) assay method in vitro. The result indicated that methanol extract of D. nemorosa leaves possessed cytotoxic activity in all tested cancer cell line, with the IC50 values of 1,794 µg/ml, 1,732 µg/ml, 1,719 µg/ml, and 1,049 µg/ml for MCF-7, T47D, WiDR and Raji cell line, respectively after incubation 24h. This species could be considered as potential sources of anticancer compounds. Further studies are necessary for chemical characterization of the active principles and more extensive biological evaluations.