Effects of Alkaloid Rich Extract of Citrullus colocynthis Fruits on Artemia Salina and Human Cancerous (MCF-7 AND HEPG-2) Cells

In the present research the anti-cancer effect of alkaloid rich extract of Citrullus colocynthis fruits was investigated. The cytotoxic effect were evaluated in two phase, initially the effect of the extract were demonstrated on brine shrimp lethality assay (on freshly hatched napolii of Artemia salina). The effect of the extract exhibited strong cytotoxic effect (LC50=3.30μg/mL) due to its potent cytotoxicity components. On the second stage its anti cancer activity has been analysed on human cancerous cells. Initially the effect has been evaluated on MCF-7 cells which exhibited significant reduction in cell viability in dose dependant manner (LC50=17.2μg/mL) in very low concentration at 5μg/mL, 10μg/mL, 20μg/mL. Similar effect has been observed in human hepatoma cells (HepG-2), proved to be potent anti-cancer moiety (LC50=12.54μg/mL). These effects were observed maintained even after 48 and 72 hours (time dependant manner).