Cytotoxic activity screening of some indigenous Thai plants

The 50% ethanolic extracts from 14 plant species used in Thai traditional folklore were screened for cytotoxic activity against a malignant human hepatoma (HepG2) cell line and a normal African green monkey kidney (Vero) cell line. The extracts of Polyalthia evecta and Erythroxylum cuneatum showed potent anticancer activity in the HepG2 cell line with IC50 of 70 ± 3 µg/ml and 64 ± 4 µg/ml, respectively. P. evecta demonstrated more selectivity to the HepG2 than the Vero cell (selectivity index > 14.3) indicating its potential for biopharmaceutical use.