In vitro Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Activity of Various Flower Extracts of Couroupita Guianensis

Aim: The present study was focused on the screening of the phytochemical, in vitro cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of various flower extracts [ethanolic (ECG), Ethyl acetate (EACG) and aqueous (ACG)] of Couroupita guianensis Aubl. (Family: Lecythiadaceae). Method: Preliminary phytochemical analysis of extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, steroids and terpenoids. In vitro cytotoxic activity was performed against MCF-7 cell lines by using MTT assay. All these extracts (12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200μg/ml) in dose manner showed a significant percentage inhibition of cancer cells. Antimicrobial activity was performed using cup-plate method at concentration of 50μg/ml, 100μg/ml, 200μg/ml and 300μg/ml in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) against selected strains of the National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms Sparfloxacin was used as the reference standards. Results: The IC50 values of ECG (59.95), EACG (64.81), ACG (685.6) against standard tamoxifen (37.79) was determined. All extracts of Couroupita guianensis flowers were treated on MCF-7 cell lines which observed, both ethanolic extract (ECG), ethyl acetate extract (EACG) showed in vitro cytotoxic activity.Similarly all these extracts also showed good antimicrobial properties in dose dependent manner. Conclusion: The results suggested that Couroupita guianensis flowers are a potent natural source of new chemical agents, further studies are needed for isolation of pure chemical constituents and establish their molecular mechanism of cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties.