Antilarval and in vitro Anticancer efficacy of Cladode extracts of Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw., Cereus pterogonus Lem. and Acanthocereus tetragonus (L.) Hummelinck

Aqueous, ethanol and chloroform extracts of the three selected plants of Cactaceae family viz., Opuntiadillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw., Cereus pterogonus Lem. And Acanthocereus tetragonus (L.) Hummelinck were tested for their antilarval efficacy against the larvae of Aedes aegypti and in vitro anticancer efficacy against HeLa cancer cell lines. Larvicidal assays were performed with the fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti with various concentrations of the extract ranging from 100-500µg/ml. In vitro anticancer activities of various concentrations (100-500µg/ml) of the extract were estimated by MTT assay. Ethanol extracts of all the three samples were found to exhibit efficient antilarval and anticancer activities. All the extracts exhibited their potential in a concentration-dependent manner. Of the three samples, Opuntia dilleni i(Ker Gawl.) Haw., was found to be a potent antilarval and anticancer agent. Hence, this study reported the comparative analysis on antilarval and anticancer properties of the three commonly found succulents- Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw, Cereus pterogonus Lem. and Acanthocereus tetragonus (L.) Hummelinck.