In vitro cytotoxic effect of aqueous and hydroethanolic leaf extracts of Stachytarpheta cayennensis on the human pancreatic cell line (ASPC-1)

There is an urgent need for agents with improved efficacy against pancreatic cancer, as only 20% of pancreatic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy respond to treatment. This study investigated the antiproliferative attributes of hydroethanolic and aqueous leaf extracts of Stachytarpheta cayennensis on human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines (AsPC-1). Human pancreatic (AsPC-1) cells were seeded (1.07×105 cells/well) into 96 well microtitre plate, allowed to stabilize, then exposed for 24hrs to graded (0 – 10000 μg ml-1 ) concentrations of crude aqueous or hydroethanolic (60%) extract of pulverised air dried leaves. There after cytotoxicity was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Crude aqueous and hydroethanolic leaf extracts of Stachytarpheta cayennensis displayed significantly (p < 0.05) increased cell cytotoxicity (CC) in a dose-dependent manner and the CC50 values were 1190 µg ml-1 (R2 = 0.92) and 2537 µg ml-1 (R2 = 0.96) respectively.These results showed the possible application of aqueous as well as hydroethanolic leaf extracts of Stachytarpheta cayennensisleaves as a source of bioactive compounds, potent as antiproliferative and cytotoxic agents that could be utilized pharmaceutically.