Phytochemical screening and cytotoxicity of Melastoma malabathricum L. leaves extracts against MCF-7, HeLa, A549, B16, and HT29 cells

A medicinal plant widely distributed in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, is Melastoma malabathricum. Therefore, this research aimed to assess the phytochemicals (terpenoid, steroid, flavonoid, and alkaloid contents) and cytotoxicity of M. malabathricum leaves extracts in order to investigate M. malabathricum as a medicinal plant for anticancer agents. Using phytochemical screening techniques, the terpenoid, steroid, alkaloid, and flavonoid contents were examined. A cytotoxicity test was conducted in vitro on several cancer cell lines, such as MCF-7, HeLa, and A549. B16, and HT29. M. malabathricum leaves extract contains terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, and flavonoids. MCF-7, HeLa, A549, B16, and HT29 cancer cell lines were used to demonstrate the cytotoxicity of the methanol extract, with IC50 values of 327.37±0.67, 327.05±0.48, 304.46±1.93, 319.21±0.67, and 1.43±0.19 µg/mL, respectively. These findings suggest that the plant could serve as a promising source of anticancer agents.