Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities of Colocasia Esculenta and Alocasia Macrorrhizos: A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Study

Abstract

Background: Medicinal plants are important sources of therapeutic agents and continue to contribute to traditional medicine and modern drug discovery. Colocasia esculenta and Alocasia macrorrhizos, two indigenous members of the family Araceae, were investigated for their phytochemical composition and biological activities.

Objectives: To evaluate the phytochemical constituents and assess the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of successive extracts of C. esculenta and A. macrorrhizos.

Materials and Methods: Successive extracts were prepared using solvents of increasing polarity and subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH assay, and cytotoxicity was evaluated against B16-F10 melanoma cells.

Results: Both plants contained alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, phenolics, steroids, and glycosides, with variations according to solvent polarity. Petroleum ether extracts showed the highest antimicrobial activity, with inhibition zones up to 14 mm. DPPH assay showed IC₅₀ values of 8.71 µg/mL for C. esculenta and 10.91 µg/mL for A. macrorrhizos. Cytotoxicity studies showed dose-dependent activity, with petroleum ether extracts exhibiting IC₅₀ values of 0.7342 µL/mL and 0.5957 µL/mL, respectively.

Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that C. esculenta and A. macrorrhizos, particularly their non-polar fractions, possess promising antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. These results support their traditional medicinal importance and warrant further phytochemical and pharmacological investigations.