Cytotoxicity of alkaloid fraction from Sphaeranthus amaranthoides in A549 cell line

Abstract

Sphaeranthus amaranthoides (sivakaranthai) is a weed in paddy fields found in South Asia. The plant is widely exploited for its pharmacological activity. Previous research showed that the crude extract of this plant possess the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity. The current study concentrates on the cytotoxic properties of the alkaloid fraction isolated from the S. amaranthoides. The cytotoxicity was checked using MTT assay method. The assessment of the morphology of the apoptotic cell was done using the fluorescent microscopy. The percentage of apoptosis was investigated dual staining (EB/AO). Nuclear morphology was assessed using propidium iodide. Finally the cell cycle progression was analyzed using flow cytometer. Alkaloids was found to have the highest toxicity towards A549 lung cancer cell lines (IC₅₀= 29.57 µg). The morphology of the lung cancer cells after treatment showed evidence of apoptosis that included blebbing and chromatin condensation. Dual staining showed the evidence of the early apoptosis induced after treatment. The cell cycle analysis indicated that alkaloids were able to induce G2/M phase arrest in lung cancer cells.

Keywords: Sphaeranthus amaranthoides, alkaloids, lung cancer cells

African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(38) 3919-3927