Phytochemical Screening and Effect of Cymodocea serrulata on HepG2-Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line

Abstract

Cymodocea serrulata, a seagrass commonly known as karumbupassi has been used as a food and also as a medicine by coastal region people and by fishermen while traveling in the sea. It is used as a tranquilizer for babies as it has a soothing quality, it helps during pregnancy and against cough and malaria. C.serrulata is seen abundant in South Indian coastal region. Although there is a report on the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory property of C.serrulata, there are no evident details on phyto-compounds present in it. Invitro antiproliferative test was performed by MTT (methylthiozoltetrazolium) assay method against HePG2 celline of liver cancer cells. MTT assay is a colorimetric assay used for the determination of cell proliferation and cytotoxicity, based on reduction of the yellow colored water soluble tetrazolium dye MTT to formazan crystals. Mitochondrial lactate dehydrogenase produced by liver cells reduces MTT to insoluble formazan crystals, which upon dissolution into an appropriate solvent exhibits purple color, the intensity of which is proportional to the number of viable cells and can be measured spectrophotometrically at 570nm.