Phytochemical screening, invitro antioxidant and cytotoxic studies on waltheria indica linn

The current investigation deals with the detection of class of compounds present, free radical scavenging activity and cytotoxicity, of the stem and leaves of Waltheria indica. For this studies Petroleum ether, Chloroform and Methanol were used for extraction. Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated by using the DPPH, (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical),FRAP(Ferric reducing ability of plasma)and LPO(Lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity) methods and Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assay on cancer and normal cell lines. Among the three plant extracts, Methanol extract showed stronger IC50 values in DPPH method (IC50 of <62.5), Petroleum ether showed stronger IC50 values in LPO method (IC50 is 233± 3.9). Among the extracts methanol showed the stronger reducing power with higher absorbance in FRAP method (absorbance ranging 0.524 – 0.272).For all the methods concentrations are maintained from 62.5 to 1000µg/ml, and all the extracts showed the dose dependent activity. The extracts also showed cytotoxity towards normal (Vero) and cancer cell lines (HaCaT, A549, HeLa, HT-29) when evaluated by MTT assay. A panel of 62.5 to 1000 µg/ml concentrations are maintained and concentration of extract needed to inhibit cell growth by 50% (CTC50) values is generated from the dose-response curves. Of the three extracts chloroform extract showed highest % of inhibition at concentration of 1000µg/ml (% of inhibition is 83.86) and is CTC50 103.33±5.77) followed by petroleum ether extract. (CTC50 is 133.33±5.8).