Photochemical Analysis, Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxicity of Adansonia digitata L. Seeds Ethanol Extract

Abstract

Adansonia digitate Linn (Malvaceae) is a native plant to the west Sudan, locally named Tabaldy. 
Adansonia digitate seeds are believed to have nutritional and medicinal benefits in Sudan. The 
aims of this study are to screening the phytochemicals of Adansonia digitate L seeds ethanol 
extract and to assess the antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity. The phytochemical screening 
revealed the presence of glycosides, saponins, steroids, flavonoids, and protein, but alkaloids, 
tannins and resins were not detected. The antioxidant test of baobab seeds ethanol extract was 
performed by using the DPPH scavenging test which revealed a moderate activity (53.04±0.067) 
with IC50 value 0.092± 0.006. The cytotoxicity was tested using three cancer cell line: lung 
cancer cell (A549), breast cancer cell (MCF7), hepatic cancer cell (HEPG2) and tow normal cell 
line melanocytes cell (HFB4) and fibrinocytes cell (BHK). The cytotoxicity result of the seed 
aqueous ethanol extract was exhibited a cytotoxic effect against the normal cell tested (HFB4), 
(BHK) with IC50 11.6, and 24.5 µg/ml respectively and no effect on cancer cell tested except 
(MCF7) cell with IC50 11.5 µg/ml. This study does not support the use of seeds powder as 
nutrition due to the cytotoxic effect.