Cytotoxic Activity of N-hexane, Chloroform and Carbon Tetrachloride Fractions of the Ethanolic Extract of Leaves and Stems of Baccaurea Ramiflora (lour.)

The purpose of the study was to find out the cytotoxic activity of the nhexane, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride fractions of the ethanolic extracts of the leaves and stems of Baccaurea ramiflora (Lour.). Ethanolic extracts of the leaves and stems of Baccaurea ramiflora were subjected to solvent-solvent partitioning using n-hexane, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride to obtain n-hexane leaves fraction, chloroform leaves fraction, n-hexane stems fraction, chloroform stems fraction and carbon tetrachloride stems fraction. Each fraction was assayed for their cytotoxic effect using brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Among the fractions, the n-hexane fractions of leaves and stems showed significant cytotoxic effects having LC50 values of 7.79 μg/ml (95% confidence interval 6.48-9.37) and 5.78 μg/ml (95% confidence interval 4.76-6.99) respectively as compared to vincristine sulfate (LC50= 2.81 μg/ml (95% confidence interval 1.97-4.01) which was used as positive control. The results support the traditional uses of B. ramiflora for various medicinal purposes and thus demand the isolation and identification of active principles and thorough bioassay. INTRODUCTION: Baccaurea ramiflora (Lour.), (family: Euphorbiaceae) is a slow-growing evergreen tree growing to 25 m, with a spreading crown and thin bark. The fruit of B. ramiflora is 1-2′′ around and yellow to red in color. This fruit tree is native to the Southeast Asian region and found growing wild 1, 2 as well as under cultivation in Nepal, India, Myanmar, South China, Indo-China, Thailand, the Andaman Islands and Peninsular Malaysia. It grows in evergreen forests on a wide range of soils. The common names include Latkan or Bhubi (Bengali), Leteku (Hindi), Mafai (Thai) and Burmese grape (English) 1, . In Chinese Dai medicine, the whole plant of B. ramiflora is utilized as an antiphlogistic and anodyne against rheumatoid arthritis, cellulitis, abscesses and to treat injuries . The plant is also used as medicine by hill-tribes in Northern Thailand . Young leaves of B. ramiflora are used as vegetable, flavoring agent with curries and minced meat in Bangladesh . In India, fresh bark is chewed or juice is used orally for constipation . The hydromethanol extract of the fruit pericarp of B. ramiflora showed significant DPPH scavenging activity with IC50 of 31.38 μg/ml 5 which indicates presence of phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins and phenolic terpenes .