Abstract
(L.) Schrad (
called colocynth is a wild species that belongs to the family cucurbitaceae. The present research work aimed to study the phytochemical composition, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of
seed extract. The chemical characterization of
seeds was effectuated using a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The cytotoxic activity of
seed extract against breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231) and colon cancer cell lines (HT-29) was assessed using the WST-1 bioassay. The antioxidant power was evaluated by the DPPH assay. The phytochemical characterization of
seed extract showed the richness of
seed extract in several families of bioactive compounds. Regarding the cytotoxic activity, the IC
(the half-maximal inhibitory concentration) of
seed extract in inhibiting MDA-MB-231 and HT-29 were 170.34 and 132.31 µg/mL, respectively. The cancerous cell lines MDA-MB-231 seem to be more sensitive to
seed extract than HT-29 cell lines.
seed extract exhibited a strong antioxidant power with an IC
value of 1.37 mg/mL. Insight into the results obtained,
seed extract may be used as a promising weapon to fight against cancer and free radicals’ damage.