In-vitro screening for cytotoxic activity of herbal plant extracts on N2a cell lines

Clitoria ternatea, Cucurbita maxima, Artemisia vulgaris were the Indian native plants used in the treatment of different diseases. The methanolic extract of Clitoria ternatea, petroleum ether extract of Cucurbita maxima and methanolic extract of Artemisia vulgaris were investigated using MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. These extracts were assessed using N2a cell line (Neuroblastoma). Cisplatin was used as a positive control based on IC₅₀ values. Artemisia vulgaris methanol extract have highest cytotoxicity (80.81ug/mL) and Cucurbita maxima seed extract have lowest cytotoxicity (57.655ug/mL). The comparison of IC₅₀ of the extracts had shown the following toxicity: Cucurbita maxima petroleum ether extract <Clitoria ternatea methanolic extract <Artemisia vulgaris methanolic extract. The Cucurbita maxima showed least cytotoxicity against the tested cell lines. The results indicate that Cucurbita maxima seed extract have significant potential to be used as a natural anticancer agent in cultured N2a cell lines.