The Extraction of Clinacanthus Nutans with Three Solvents using the Mixture Design, and its Extracts Anticancer Activity

Clinacanthus nutans (Acanthaceae), known in Malaysia as "Belalai Gajah" is one of
the important herbal medicines grown in tropical part of Asia. It has been traditionally
used as anti-inflammation, anti-hepatitis and anti-herpes agent. Recent studies have
also shown its high medicinal values for the treatment of cancer. Here in this study,
the extraction using different solvents (chloroform, methanol and hexane) and their
combinations have been used to extract biochemical compounds in Clinacanthus
nutans. The compounds have been determined using gas chromatography-mass
spectrometry (GS-MS). The potential anticancer effect of Clinacanthus nutans
extracts on colon 38 cancer cells using MTT assays have also been evaluated and the
The result of GC-MS showed that the extraction using the combination of
chloroform and hexane extracted the maximum number of compounds followed by
hexane and combination of three solvents. While the other combinations extracted less
number of compounds as compared with above combinations. The extract of three
solvents mixtures exhibited a better growth inhibition with IC50 6 pg/ml followed by
chloroform extract 15 pg/ml and the combination of chloroform and hexane extract
with 19 pg/ml. Other extracts were not able to inhibit up to 50 % of the cell growth.
This study suggests that phytochemical constituents present in Clinacanthus nutans
extract could be as an alternate drug for anti-cancer. However, additional research
needs to be done to understand the mechanism of its anticancer compounds.