CYTOTOXIC EFFECT OF FICUS MACROPHYLLA (DESF.) AND FICUS LUTEA (VAHL.) ON HEPATOCARCINOMA HUMAN CELLS
The aim of this study is to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of the crude extract, n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions of both Ficus macrophylla (Desf.) and Ficus lutea (Vahl.) leaves, Family Moraceae. Also, the quantitative evaluation of the flavonoids and phenolics content were done. The crude ethanolic extract (95%) as well as the n-hexane and ethlyl acetate fractions of both Ficus macrophylla (Desf.) and Ficus lutea (Vahl.) leaves were subjected to the evaluation of the cytotoxic activity on human hepatocarcinoma cell line (HepG2) according to (Mosmann, 1983). The two fractions of both Ficus spp. were obtained by successive liquid/liquid fractionation of the crude cold 95% ethanolic extract of the dried powdered plant leaves. The 95% ethanolic extracts were subjected to high performance liquid chromatography HPLC analysis to determine their flavonoids and phenolics contents alongside with the available standard material. The HPLC analysis of the total flavonoidal content of Ficus.macrophylla gave 0.267 mg/g….. while for Ficus lutea, it gave 0.119mg/g. These results encourage the performing of the cytotoxicity study. Furthermore, comparing the results of cytotoxicity of the two species, it proved the efficacy of the ethlyl acetate fraction of Ficus lutea Vahl. leaves which giving a very promising cytotoxicity (100%) followed by the ethyl acetate fraction of Ficus macrophylla leaves(94.2%).