Antiproliferative Effects of Methanolic Root Extracts of Eichhornia crassipes Against a Skin Melanoma Cell Line: An In Vitro Study

Background Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, accounting for 3% of all malignant cancers. Phytochemicals and their related compounds are found in various parts of the plant Eichhornia crassipes and have a variety of pharmacological actions. The current research was intended to compare and evaluate the anti-proliferative action of methanolic extracts of E. crassipes roots and petioles against the Sloan Kettering Melanoma (SK-Mel-5) cell line. Materials and methods The waters around Ezhikkara, Ernakulum, Kerala, were discovered to contain E. crassipes. We used a Soxhlet extractor to get this concentrated liquid. For this test, we employed a methanolic extract of roots and petioles to determine the extent to which different concentrations of the extract inhibited cell proliferation. Data on absorbance were reported as a mean standard deviation. Using Probit analysis, the IC(50) was calculated by evaluating the gradient of the regression line to get a value. Results Concentrations of methanolic root and petiole extracts of 12.5 µg/ml, 25 µg/ml, 50 µg/ml, 100 µg/ml, and 200 µg/ml were analyzed. The methanol petiole extract reduced the viability of SK-Mel-5 cells more than the root extract, with IC(50) values of 323.59 µg/ml and 174.70 µg/ml of the test sample concentration, respectively. The regression equation for the root extract was y = -0.1264x + 90.902 and R(2) = 0.845, and for the petiole extract, it was y = -0.2187x + 88.206 and R(2) = 0.917. Conclusion The current study found that increasing the concentration of methanolic extracts of roots and petioles of E. crassipes exhibited an increased cell growth inhibition rate. However, methanolic petiole extracts were more cytotoxic than the roots. Thus, the current study demonstrated the therapeutic use of E. crassipes as an anticancer agent, thereby providing a valuable alternative for enabling the early management of melanoma.