ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC FRUIT EXTRACT FROM CUCURBITA DIGITATA

Abstract

To investigate the antiproliferative / cytotoxicity effect of methanolic fruit extract of Cucurbita digitata on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line. Cytotoxicity tests on HepG2 liver cancer cell lines were performed by Caspase assay, Flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation assays. Cell proliferations measured by Caspase assay exhibited significant inhibition of cell growth with an increase in concentration of the Methanolic active fraction. The Flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation analysis also proved similar effects against HepG2 liver cancer cell lines. Thus MeOH fruit extract of Cucurbita digitata exhibited a highly significant inhibitory effect on HepG2 cell proliferation which was evidenced by a reduction in viable cell count. The results were confirmed by microscopical examination of cell morphology. The antiproliferative activity of Cucurbita digitata thus contributes the underlying data for the isolation of active compound for antiproliferation and the primary intracellular mechanism.