Evaluation Of Anti-Cancer Potential Of Crude Extracts Of Annona Senegalensis Pers. And Allophylus Africanus P Beauv.

ABSTRACT

The medicinal plants Annona senegalensis Pers. and Allophylus africanus P Beav. are traditionally used for the treatment of cancer in Tanzania. However, there is no scientific documentation on their therapeutic effectiveness. To evaluate the anticancer potential of A. senegalensis and A. africanus plant species from Tanzania, stem bark of the two plants were collected from Ugweno village at Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Pulverized plant materials were soaked in dichloromethane/methanol (DCM:MeOH), petroleum ether (PE), DCM, ethyl acetate (EtOAC), MeOH and water to obtain DCM-MeOH, PE, DCM, EtOAC and MeOH extracts respectively. Anticancer activity against breast (HCC 1396), throat (HEp- 2) and colon (CT 26) cancer cell lines was assessed by the MTT cell viability assay. Results showed that anticancer activity varied between plant extracts and the cancer cell lines. The highest anticancer activity was achieved with A. senegalensis petroleum ether extract against HEp-2. The findings justify traditional use of A. senegalensis and A. africanus in treatment of cancer. This study found petroleum ether extract of A. senegalensis to have high potential for development of an anticancer agent against throat cancer. Further studies involving the isolation of pure anticancer compounds from the two plants are recommended to elucidate bioactive molecules with anticancer activity.