ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY OF PHYTOCHEMICALS PRESENT IN AERIAL PARTS AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF AMPELOCISSUS LATIFOLIA (ROXB.) PLANCH. ON APICAL MERISTEM CELLS

Abstract

This study aimed to explore antiproliferative activity of aerial parts aqueous extract of Ampelocissus latifolia (Roxb.) Planch. (AAEAL). Antiproliferative activity of AAEAL was tested in root and/or shoot apical meristems of green gram and onion by analysing growth retardation and /or by scoring mitotic index, mitotic cell phase frequency. Phytochemical contents of AAEAL were detected and the total phenolic, tannin and flavonoid contents were estimated using standard protocols. The results indicate AAEAL treatment could induce significant growth retardation in apical meristems. In onion root tip cells, 74 % mitotic index reduction was observed with 2 mg/ml of AAEAL treatment for 12 h. Tannins, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, carbohydrates and anthraquiones were relatively of higher quantities and a trace amount of alkaloids and glycosides were detected from AAEAL. Tannic acid equivalents were determined from AAEAL as 21.03±0.9, 9.54±0.7 and 12.1±0.9 % respectively for total phenols, non tannin phenols and tannins while 11.7±0.5 % flavonoids were estimated as quercetin equivalents in AAEAL. In summary, the AAEAL possesses the significant antiproliferative potentials which may be due to its bioactive polyphenolics.