Anti-Proliferative Activity of Cucurbita maxima by using Dictyostelium discoideum as A Eukaryotic Model Organism

To preliminary screen in vivo anti-proliferative effect of chloroform extract of Cucurbita maxima leaves which belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae, common name as Pumpkin using Dictyostelium discoideum.  In this study, to scrutinize the effect of chloroform extract on the leaves of C.maxima  (CECM) was selected for phytochemical studies and anti-proliferative activity. An anti-proliferative study was determined by using the eukaryotic model organism D. discoideum by the inhibition of cell growth. The  Preliminary phytochemical study of the leaves showed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, amino acid, steroids, proteins, tannins, saponin, carbohydrates and the absence of cyanogenetic glycoside, cardiac glycoside, anthro quinone glycoside, fixed oils, volatile oils and mucilage. The total phenolic content of gallic acid was found to be 18.2µg/g, Flavonoid content of quercetin by the aluminium chloride method was found to be 21.6µg/g. The anti-proliferative assay by using D. discoideum  showed that CECM is an excellent inhibitor of cell growth. Inhibition of the cell growth by CECM of 4,5,6 µg/ml were found to be 20,17,15 X 104  cells/ml on 4 th day. Cucurbita maxima have been recognized as long and economically chief as a source of edible fruit. The present study specified that the chloroform extract  of C. maxima leaves have effective antimitotic activity and anti-proliferative activity. The existence of the chloroform extract of C. Maxima and the attributed reported anti-oxidant activity seems to contribute to its activity. Further investigation is necessary to confirm this activity.