Different Polarity Extracts of Polygonum minus towards Cytotoxic Activities against Colon Cancer Cell Lines (HT-29, HCT-116, CT-26)

Aims: To investigate the cytotoxic properties of different polarity solvents of Polygonum minus extracts towards colon cancer cell lines, HT-29, HCT-116 and CT-26.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: Central Laboratory, Tissue Culture Laboratory, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu between September 2019 until December 2019.

Methodology: The different polarity solvents of P. minus extracts had been led to tetrazolium salt reduction (MTT) assay and an inhibition concentration of 50 (IC50) value for their cytotoxic potential against colon cancer cells. Then, cell morphology observation and fluorescence double staining of treatment cells were determined using a light inverted microscope and acridine orange/propidium iodide staining.

Results: The results indicated that an extraction yields aligned from 0.01% for acetone and ethyl acetate to 0.45% for aqueous solution with decreasing order of aqueous solution > 70% aqueous ethanol > 50% aqueous ethanol > methanol > ethanol > acetone and ethyl acetate. Meanwhile, the ethyl acetate extract showed a higher cytotoxic effect at IC50 values of 7.00 ± 0.06 µg/mL and 7.00 ± 0.30 µg/mL towards the HCT-116 and CT-26 cells; and 50% aqueous ethanol towards HT-29 cells (24.00 ± 0.01 µg/mL). The different solvent extracts of P. minus induced cytotoxic effects on the treated cell lines by altering their normal cell morphology and cell membrane integrity (except for acetone extract).

Conclusion: Therefore, the use of different polarity solvent extracts of P. minus as an anti-cancer agent is promising more on ethyl acetate and warrants further investigation.