Phytochemical studies and growth inhibitory potentials of methanol seed extracts of Cnestis ferruginea Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae )

Abstract

Plants contain a variety of bioactive compounds known to have chemotherapeutic values. Against this background, this study is aimed to  evaluate the phytochemical and physicochemical constituents and anti-proliferative properties of the seed extracts of Cnestis ferruginea.  Extraction of the sample was carried out with 70% methanol, using the soxhlet technique. The phytochemical screening was carried out  according to standard methods. The anti-proliferative properties were determined using seeds of S. bicolor (guinea corn). The results  revealed the presence of several metabolites including flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, and cardiac glycosides.  Physicochemical analysis of the seed extracts showed the moisture content to be 90 ± 0.00 unit?), total ash content (10.3 ± 0.20 unit?), water-soluble ash (10.3 ± 0.44 unit?), acid insoluble ash (11.1 ± 0.15 unit?), extractive value of ethanol soluble extractive (16.5 ± 0.28 unit?)  and water soluble extractive (27.83 ± 0.44 unit?). For the growth inhibitory properties, an average growth length of 4.5±0.5 mm was  produced by the radicle of the control seeds in 24 hours and increased to 18.4±1.1 mm in 48 hours, 37.6±3.3 mm in 72 hours; 52.6±3.2 mm  in 96 hours. The growth produced by the seed extracts was 4.6±0.6 mm for 1 mg/mL in 24 hours and at 20 mg/mL, the inhibition was  maximum, with little or no growth. Hence, the plant extract showed evidence of antiproliferative activity. : The present study  provides evidence that the methanolic extract of Cnestis ferruginea contains medicinally important bioactive compounds as well as  antiproliferative activity and this justifies the use of plant species in folkloric medicine as a medicine for treatment of cancer.