Kanahia Laniflora Methanolic Extract Suppressed Proliferation of Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer A549 Cells

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. In certain countries such as United States of America, it is the leading cause of related cancer mortality among both men and women. Natural products play an important role in overcoming the limitations of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the antiproliferative and apoptotic activities of Kanahia laniflora methanolic extract against human non-small cell lung cancer cells (A549). METHODS: Sulforhodamine B colorimetric assays were used to determine the inhibitory effects of a leaf methanolic extract against A549 cells. RESULTS: The extract showed strong cytotoxic activity against A549 cells with an IC(50) value of 0.13 µg/ml compared to 0.21 µg/ml for doxorubicin. The extract also significantly increased the percentage of apoptotic cells to 49.7% as compared to 1.4% and 47.4% for control and doxorubicin respectively. CONCLUSION: These results showed, for the first time, that a methanolic extract of Kanahia laniflora leaves can inhibit the proliferation of human non-small cell lung cancer cells (A549). Further attention to its potential as a new effective anticancer agent is warranted.