In vitro Cytotoxic Activity of Hydro Ethanolic Extract of Delonix regia (Bojer ex. Hook.) Flowers on Cancer Cell Lines

Aims: To evaluate the In vitro cytotoxic effects of the hydro ethanolic extract (HEE) of the Delonix regia flowers against different cell lines. Methodology: The dried Delonix regia flowers are subjected to soxhlet extraction by using 70% ethanol. The dried extract was used to determine the qualitative preliminary phytochemical analysis, total phenolic and flavonoid content. The cytotoxic property of the extract was determined by using MTT assay against breast cancer (MCF-7), cervix (HeLa), brain and colon cancer cells. Tamoxifen is used as a standard for all the cell lines. Results: Qualitative phytochemical tests of extract HEE showed the presence of sugars, flavonoid, tannins, phenolic compounds, steroids and saponins. The percentage of phenolic and flavonoid content was determined as 31.42 mg/g, 29.22 mg/g respectively. The cytotoxic activity of the extract showed, IC50 concentrations (μg/ml) against MCF-7 (breast), carcinoma of cervix HeLa cells, carcinoma of the brain, and carcinoma of colon cells against tamoxifen are 141.6 ± 0.08, 223.7 ± 2.16, 173.9 ± 0.7, 168.33 ± 0.04 respectively. Conclusions: The experimental data clearly demonstrate the hydro ethanolic extract (HEE) showed cytotoxic properties against human cancer cells.