Anti-proliferative and cytotoxic properties of Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae) stem bark

Abstract

An investigation was conducted into the anti-proliferative effect on guinea corn (Sorghum bicolor) root radicle and cytotoxicity on tadpoles (Raniceps ranninus) of methanol extract and solvent fractions of Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae) stem bark reputed in African traditional  medicine for various purposes including treatment of tumours. The methanol extract and solvent fractions at 0.25 – 5.0 mg/ml gave significant  decreases in mean radicle length of guinea corn root radicle (anti-proliferative effect) which was concentration-dependent. Only the chloroform (61.5-83.3%) and ethyl acetate (65.7-71.7%) fractions, showed promising growth inhibitory effects on root radicle at the highest concentration of 5 mg/ml. On tadpole cytotoxicity, chloroform fraction, tested at the highest concentration of 20 mg/ml, resulted in complete tadpole mortality equivalent to that of the positive control, chloramphenicol tested at 0.5 mg/ml. S. mombin (chloroform fraction > aqueous fraction > ethyl acetate fraction, LC₅₀ 5.1 – 8.5 mg/ml) showed promising antitumour potential. Data reported herein indicate that S. mombin is a potent cytotoxic and anti-proliferative plant and corroborate the folkloric use of the plant in the treatment of tumour-related diseases.

Key words: Spondias mombin, anti-proliferative activity, guinea corn seeds, cytotoxicity, tadpoles