Preliminary studies on phytochemicals and cytotoxic activity of methanolic rhizome extract of Hedychium coronarium

Abstract

The methanolic extract of the rhizome of Hedychium coronarium (Family- Zingiberaceae) was screened for the presence of various phytochemicals by standard procedures and the cytotoxic activity was evaluated by brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The present study indicates that the rhizome contain carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, steroids and alkaloids. In brine shrimp lethality bioassay, the extract showed potent cytotoxic action. The degree of lethality was found to be directly proportional to the concentration of the extract ranging from the lowest concentration (1.25 μg/ml) to the highest concentration (320 μg/ml). The LC50 value of the methanolic rhizome extract was 0.39 μg/ml, whereas the LC50 of the reference anticancer drug vincristine sulphate was 0.52 μg/ml.