Phytochemical Screening of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad and its Cytotoxic Activity Against Cervical Cancer Cells

According to a report from Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), cervical cancer is rated as one of the most dominant types of cancer in Nigeria. Traditionally, medicinal plants are known to be well utilized in treating cancerous diseases. The research reported herein therefore aimed at screening Citrullus colocynthis extracts for their potential cytotoxic effects against cervical cancer cells HeLa. Qualitative phytochemical screening was done according to standard procedures. The HeLa cell line, a model of cervical cancer, was then exposed for 48 h to a range of concentrations, up to 500 μg/ml of the ethyl acetate (CCE) and methanol extracts (CCM) of the whole fruit of C. colocynthis, followed by cell viability quantification with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-dipenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The phytochemical screening confirmed phenols, tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, triterpenoids, steroids, and alkaloids in the sample vegetable. The preliminary cytotoxicity assay (to estimate potential anticancer activity) showed CCE was thrice more potently cytotoxic with an IC₅₀ value of 33.95 ± 3.39 (μg/ml) than CCM with anIC₅₀ value of 101.59 ± 24.37. These findings suggest that C. colocynthis extracts could serve as a source of leads for the development of drugs to treat cervical cancer.