Antiproliferative properties of Musa paradisiaca cv (Awak) ethyl acetate towards primary mouse embryonic fibroblast cell (3T3-L1) / Muhammad Ashraf Abd Nasir

Diabetes mellitus is a universal disease that affecting millions of people worldwide. Currently, the common agents used to control this disease are hypoglycemic drugs and insulin. Apparently, the use of these agents has many prominent side effects and complications. Search for a better alternative is a very appealing. The present study aims to investigate the potential of banana soft pith ethyl acetate extract of Musa paradisiaca as safer natural hypoglycaemic agent. Primary mouse embryonic fibroblast cell (3T3-Ll) was used in this study. Quantitative study of cell viability and qualitative study of morphological changes were examined. Both MIT 3- ( 4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-dimethyl tetrazolium bromide dye assay and acridine orange/propidium iodide (AO/PI) staining indicated a general decrease in the cell viability percentage and number of cell observed under confocal microscope towards all concentrations, except for 250µg/ml of the extract which minute increment in cell viability percentage. The above findings suggest that the banana soft pith ethyl acetate extract of Musa paradisiaca may exert potential hypoglycaemic action through lipolysis which required further investigations in the future.