CYTOTOXIC EFFECT AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF PETROLEUM ETHER EXTRACT OF TILIA CORDATA MILL

The aim of this research was to investigate the chemical composition of petroleum ether extract of Tilia cordata aerial parts as well as to evaluate its cytotoxic activity. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to analyze the unsaponifiable matter and fatty acid methyl esters. Moreover, the cytotoxicity was examined against human hepatoma HepG2 cell line and breast adenocarcinoma MCF cell line. The result showed that thirteen compounds were identified in the fatty acid methyl esters fraction representing 93.71% of the total identified peak area. The major compounds were Octadecanoic acid methyl ester (36.26%) and eicosanoic acid methyl ester (29.42%), whereas nineteen compounds in the unsaponifiable fraction were identified representing 90.56 % of the total beak area. The major compounds were 1- Nonene (30.44%), 1-Hexadecene (24.83%) and phytol (10.40%). Moreover, petroleum ether extract showed a potent cytotoxic effect against human hepatoma HepG2 cell line and a moderate cytotoxic effect on breast adenocarcinoma MCF7 human tumor cell line. So the current research aims to be the first step toward the use of petroleum ether extract of Tilia cordata aerial parts as a potent cytotoxic drug.