Assessment of Cytotoxicity and Growth Inhibitory Effects of Methanol Extract of Ageratum Conyzoides Linn.

Introduction: Evaluating cellular cytotoxicity is a crucial step in the development of specific anticancer therapies. As a medicinal plant, Ageratum conyzoides is well-known for its abundance of bioactive constituents, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. In this study, its effect was evaluated to confirm if its methanol extract exhibits cytotoxic and growth-inhibitory properties, with potential relevance to oncology.

Materials and Methods: Extraction of 1000 g of dried leaf material with methanol yielded 100 g of crude extract (10 %), indicating a high content of methanol-soluble bioactive compounds. The cytotoxic potential of the extract was assessed using Ranicep ranninus tadpoles as a preliminary model.

Results: The study's findings demonstrated a clear concentration-dependent increase in mortality, with significant effects observed at 160 and 320 μg/mL and a moderate LC50 value of 100.76 μg/mL, confirming the extract's capacity to impair cell viability. Additionally, the extract exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the radicle growth of Sorghum bicolor, with both dose- and time-dependent responses. Higher concentrations (8 -16 μg/mL) and prolonged exposure periods resulted in marked suppression of radicle elongation, as reflected by percentage inhibition and IC50 values.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that the extract can interfere with cell division and proliferation, processes analogous to those driving uncontrolled growth in cancer cells. Collectively, this is an indication that A. conyzoides methanol extract possesses compounds with both cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity. These effects in non-cancerous models suggest preliminary potential as natural anticancer sources agents.