The Cytotoxic Effect of Dioscorea hispida Root Extract on Cultured Leukemic Blood Cells

Abstract

An aqueous crude extract of Dioscorea hispida root was tested for its cytotoxic effect of cultured leukemic and normal lymphocytes. The cultured cells were exposed to tenfold serially diluted D. hispida extract prepared according to volume of the extract (ul) per volume of the solvent (ml) ratio. The set concentrations were: 111.11 ul/ml (10%), 250 ul/ml (20%),428.57 ul/ml (30%), 666.67 ul/ml (40%), 1000 ul/ml (50%), 1500 ul/ml (60%), 2333.33 ul/ml (70%), 4000 ul/ml (80%), 9000 ul/ml (90%) and 599 ul pure extract (100%). Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloid and saponin compounds. These substances may have caused the low percent survival of the cultured leukemic and normal blood cells in vitro.