Antimicrobial, anticancer and cytotoxic activities of acetone extract fraction from stem bark of Thespesia populnea (Linn.)

The fraction from the acetone extract of stem bark of Thespesia populnea (Linn.) was investigated to explore the antimicrobial, anticancer and cytotoxic properties. The screening of antimicrobial activity of the fraction was carried out by cup plate method against four standard bacterial [Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96), Micrococcus luteus (MTCC 1541), Klebsiella pneumonia (MTCC 109) and Escherichia coli (MTCC 118)] and three fungal strains [Candida albicans (MTCC 183), C. parapsilosis (MTCC 2509) and C. tropicalis (MTCC 184)]. The anticancerous activity against HEp2 cell line and cytotoxicity assay against HEL cell line were carried out by standard protocols. The results indicated that the fraction possess comparatively higher antibacterial activity than antifungal activity. While the fraction inhibited all the other three bacteria at the concentration of ≥ 500 μg/ml, it was ineffective against K. pneumonia. A moderate antifungal activity against all the Candidal species at the concentration of ≥ 750 μg/ml was recorded. The fraction exhibited satisfactory anticancerous activity against HEp2 cell line with the concentration of 5 mg/ml (14.6% of cell viability). The cytotoxic activity of the fraction on normal cell line by MTT assay indicated that a concentration of 5 mg/ml was required to cause 50% (IC₅₀) of inhibition of HEL cell line. Thus, the findings of the present study vividly present the potential of acetone extract fraction from stem bark of T. populnea, to be a promising antimicrobial and anticancerous with low cytotoxicity on normal cells.