Botanical Features and Anti-cancerous Potential of Euphorbia nivulia Buch.-Ham doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v5i9.11

Abstract

Euphorbia nivulia – Buch.-Ham. (En), one of the members of Euphorbiaceae family, is rich in various phytoconstituents including flavonoids and polyphenolics. Many species of the genus Euphorbia have been reported to possess varying biological activities, including anti-proliferatory, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. This medicinal plant species indigenous to the Cholistan desert of Bahawalpur, Pakistan, was evaluated for its botanical features and anti-cancerous potential. The species was evaluated for botanical features through anatomical evaluation and powder microscopy. Standard conventional procedures were employed for preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening of En (crude extract) and various fractions, named as En hexane (En hex), En chloroform (En ch), En butanol (En bt) and En aqueous (En aq) to identify various phytoconstituents. Toxicity to Artemia salina (Leach shrimp) larvae was assayed through Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay (BSLA) using Etoposide as standard. Anticancer activity of the plant against 3T3 and HeLa cell lines was assayed using the tetrazolium salt reduction assay. Doxorubicin and Cyclohexamide were used as standard. En showed optimum activity, 73.33% mortality against Artemia salina. Maximum cytotoxic activity against 3T3 and HeLa cells was shown by En and En hex. The current study may be helpful in proper identification of the plant species and suggests that En may be a suitable anticancerous candidate.