Evaluation of in vitro cytotoxic effect of Trichosanthes dioica root

BACKGROUND: Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae), called pointed gourd in English is a dioecious climber grown in India and used traditionally for various medicinal purposes. METHODS: Present study was aimed to evaluate in vitro cytotoxic effect of dichloromethane (DCTD), methanol (METD), and aqueous (AQTD) extracts of T. dioica root using Allium cepa root meristems by keeping them in different concentrations of each test extract under specific experimental conditions followed by determination of root growth inhibition (root length and number) and mitotic index. RESULTS: All the extracts significantly demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of root length and number and reduction in mitotic index, indicating antimitotic activity demonstrating cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. DCTD was found to be the most potent (EC(50) : 2.8 mg/ml), followed by METD and AQTD. CONCLUSION: The present study therefore, establishes promising in vitro cytotoxic and genotoxic property of T. dioica root against the test system.