Cytotoxicity and antioxidant potential of dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts of Morinda morindoïdes leaves

The incidence of cancer and related mortality are on the rise worldwide, and this requires the search for new plant-based medicines. In this study, the antioxidant potential and cytotoxic activity against HCT-116 cell line were evaluated. Dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts of M. morindoïdes were prepared by maceration and evaluated for some biological properties. Cytotoxicity was assessed according to MTS method on the cancer line HCT-116 (colorectal carcinoma) using doxorubicin as reference. Antioxidant potential was carried out by DPPH and ABTS tests. Tri-phytochemistry was carried out from coloring and precipitation tests. On HCT-116 cell line, extracts demonstrated dose-response activity. The lowest IC50 value was obtained with the acetate extract with an IC50= 16.38 ± 0.2 µg/mL. IC50 values for antioxidant activities were evaluated at 39.70 ± 1.7 µg/mL and at 57.65 ± 4.3µg/mL by DPPH and ABTS test respectilly. Finally, phytochemical screening showed presence of polyphenols, flavonoids and quinone. M. morindoides ethyl acetate extract showed the best cytotoxicity and antioxidant activities. Therefore, it should be an interesting source for discovery of new compounds for colorectal cancer treatment. Keywords: cytotoxicity, cancer cells, antioxidant, Morinda morindoides.