Planta Med 2016; 82 - PC73
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1578775

Cytotoxic Activity Of The Ethanolic Extract Of The Bark Of Burkea Africana Hook. (Caesalpinaceae)

O Eboji 1, L Spies 2, A Sowemimo 1, T Koekemoer 2, M Sofidiya 1, M Van de Venter 2
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria
  • 2Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Burkea africana Hook. (Caesalpinaceae), a small to medium deciduous tree which grows in Western and Southern Africa is used in the traditional treatment of fever, inflammation, pneumonia and cancer [1]. The cytotoxic activity of the ethanolic extract of the bark was investigated using brine shrimp lethality assay, MTT assay on cervical (HeLa) cancer cell line and cell cycle analysis. The brine shrimp lethality assay showed an LD50 value of 631 µg/ml. Significant growth inhibition was observed in HeLa cells with an IC50 value of 61.4 µg/ml. Cell cycle analysis indicated that HeLa cells were arrested in the G2/M phase showing large increases in the sub G1 phase. The results support the use of the bark in the traditional treatment of cancer.

Acknowledgements: Support for this research from the African Laser Centre (Project number LHEAB01) and the South African National Research Foundation is graciously acknowledged. Reference: [1] Burkill, H.M. (1995). The useful plants of West Tropical Africa, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom 3: 857.