Cytotoxic and apoptosis induction potential of Mimusops elengi L. in human cervical cancer (SiHa) cell line

Bullet wood tree, also called Spanish cherry (Mimusops elengi L.) is a medium-sized evergreen tree belonging to family Sapotaceae which is widely used in the treatment of different ailments. The present study investigated cytotoxic potential of methanolic leaf and bark extracts against human cervical cancer cell line (SiHa) by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2; 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, the apoptotic cells were quantified further by flow cytometry by FACS fluorescence activated cell sorting. The extract of M. elengi bark and leaf was effective towards tested cell line, with IC50 values of 35.08 ± 2.92 μg/ml and 67.46 ± 4.21 μg/ml respectively. Further there is an increase in apoptotic bodies from 0.24% to 60% and 69% after treatment with extracts. These extracts exhibit significant cytotoxic effect by inducing apoptosis. The M. elengi has never shown anticancer activity on SiHa cells. These findings suggested that extracts and compounds from this plant could be useful for preventing and treating human gynaecologic cancer disease.