Sains Malaysiana 51(10)(2022): 3237-3250

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2022-5110-10

Phytochemical Evaluation and Cytotoxic Activities of Stem Bark and Leaf Extracts of Mesua assamica  

(Penilaian Fitokimia dan Aktiviti Sitotoksik Ekstrak Kulit Batang dan DaunMesua assamica)

HAZLINA AHMAD HASSALI^1,*, CHAN GOMATHI², WAN HAMIRUL WAN BAHRIN¹, ZAINAH ADAM¹, DARYL JESUS ARAPOC¹, ROSNIZA RAZALI¹, AZFAR HANIF ABD AZIZ¹ & KHALIJAH AWANG²

¹Medical Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

Received: 19 February 2022/Accepted: 23 May 2022

Abstract

Natural products and their derivatives have historically been invaluable as a source of therapeutic agents. The Mesua (Calophyllaceae) has been known to produce various new chemical compounds of medicinal values. Some Mesua species have yielded new potential anticancer agents that are important to the pharmaceutical industry. In this research, phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of different solvent extracts of Mesua assamica stem bark and leaves were evaluated. The stem bark and leaves of M. assamica were successively extracted in hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. Qualitative phytochemical analysis showed that most of the M. assamica extracts consist of important phytochemicals, namely, anthraquinones, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phlobatannins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, glycosides, decreasing sugars, steroids, lipids, phenols, coumarins, carbohydrates, proteins, and betacyanin indicating its potential for medicinal use. Quantitative determination of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and in vitro antioxidant activities through DPPH assay of M. assamica extracts have been achieved by utilizing colorimetric methods. In vitro cytotoxic evaluation through MTT assay induction against human breast MCF-7 cancer cell lines exhibited that hexane extracts were found to have IC₅₀ value below 30 μg/mL and conferred effectiveness in inducing cell death MCF-7. The diversity of phytochemicals present suggests that the stem bark and leaves of M. assamica could serve as a supply of potentially valuable medications. Exploiting the plant's pharmacological qualities will necessitate more study on the isolation, purification, and identification of bioactive components.

Keywords: Antioxidant; cytotoxic; Mesua assamica; MTT assay; phytochemicals

Abstrak

Produk semula jadi dan bahan terbitannya telah dikenal pasti sebagai sumber agen terapi yang tidak ternilai. Spesies Mesua (Calophyllaceae) diketahui dapat menghasilkan pelbagai sebatian kimia baharu yang mempunyai nilai perubatan. Terdapat spesis Mesua yang berpotensi sebagai agen antikanser dan penting dalam industri farmaseutikal. Dalam kajian ini, unsur fitokimia, antioksidan dan sitotoksik dalam ekstrak Penaga Bayan (Mesua assamica) dan daunnya dinilai. Kayu dan daun M. assamica diekstrak secara berturutan dalam pelarut heksana, etil asetat dan metanol. Analisis fitokimia secara kualitatif mendedahkan bahawa sebahagian besar ekstrak M. assamica terdiri daripada fitokimia penting, iaitu antrakuinon, terpenoid, flavonoid, saponin, tanin, phlobatannin, alkaloid, glikosida jantung, glikosida, menurunkan paras gula, steroid, lipid, fenol, kumarin, karbohidrat, protein, dan betasianin berpotensi sebagai kegunaan dalam perubatan. Penentuan jumlah fenol, jumlah flavonoid dan aktiviti antioksidan in vitro melalui ujian DPPH bagi ekstrak M. assamica secara kuantitatif telah tercapai dengan kaedah kolorimetrik. Penilaian sitotoksik in vitro melalui induksi ujian MTT terhadap saluran sel kanser MCF-7 payudara manusia menunjukkan bahawa ekstrak heksana didapati mempunyai nilai IC₅₀ di bawah 30 μg/mL dan memberikan keberkesanan dalam mendorong kematian sel MCF-7. Kepelbagaian fitokimia yang hadir menunjukkan bahawa kayu dan daun M. assamica boleh berfungsi sebagai bekalan ubat-ubatan yang berpotensi dan berharga. Kepelbagaian fitokimia yang ada menunjukkan bahawa kayu dan daun M. assamica mampu berfungsi sebagai sumber perubatan yang berpotensi. Mengeksploitasi kualiti farmakologi tumbuhan akan memerlukan lebih banyak kajian tentang pengasingan, penulenan dan pengenalpastian komponen bioaktif.

Kata kunci: Antioksidan; fitokimia; Mesua assamica; sitotoksik; ujian MTT

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^*Corresponding author; email: hazlinaahmad@nuclearmalaysia.gov.my