Anti-neoplastic Property of Eleusine indica(Paragis) Ethanolic Extract against Human Lung Carcinoma Cells (A549) through MTT Assay

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer claims 1.59 million lives around the world annually (World Health Organization, 2013). in the Philippines, it is the top cause of cancer-related deaths among men and the third cause of mortality among women (Bueza, 2016). Due to this problem, herbs, plants, and botanicals are being utilized to provide cures for this disease (Mesotheliama.net, 2017). Goosegrass or wire grass (Eleusine indica) is a local medicinal plant that exhibits antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties (Iberahim, 2015). According to studies, the methanol extract contained flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and other chemical compounds which contributed to the medicinal value of the plant (Zhao Ji, 2013).

METHODS

The Paragis plant was gathered, air-dried, soaked in ethanoland was extracted through rotary evaporation and freeze-drying method. The chemicals and cell lines were gathered and activated in a modified medium. The ethanolic extract was tested against human lung carcinoma cells (A549) through MTT Assay. Linear regression and One-way ANOVA were used to interpret the results gathered from the MTT Assay.

RESULTS

Results on the anti-neoplasticity of E.indica ethanolic extract showed that it does not have a cytotoxic effect against cell line A549 due to the high IC50 values (greater than 100 Âμg/mL) of the extract. The three trials were based on the standard protocol of IC50 analysis (Jokhadze et al, 2007); therefore, the null hypothesis is accepted. Based on the results of the statistical analysis using One-way ANOVA, there is a significant difference between the mean percent inhibitions of the extract, as evidenced by a p-value of 0.00048 (p < 0.05), rejecting the null hypothesis. However, since a posthoc test was not employed, it is impossible to tell which concentration is different from the other.

DISCUSSIONS

The results showed that Paragis demonstrated the absence of inactivity against cell line A549 since the resulting IC50 values from the MTT assay were greater than 30 ug/mL. Compared to the results of the study conducted by Zubairi et al. (2009) wherein the ethanolic extract of E. indica was tested against human breast cancer cells and the results showed low IC50 values, the three trials conducted by the researchers using E. indica on human lung cancer cells showed that the plant is not cytotoxic to cell line A549. This suggests that the said plant has cytotoxic property against breast cancer cells but not against lung cancer cells.