The effect of hibiscus rosa-sinensis leaves extract on liver cancer cell / Muhamad Solehuddin Mohamad Noor

Liver cancer is sixth most often diagnosed cancer cases and third most common killer cancer in many countries of the world, especially in developing countries. Despite progressiveness in cancer treatment over the years, there is still no absolute cure to the disease and the present cancer therapy give undesirable side effects to cancer patients. It is important to find anticancer drugs that are potent and gives less side effects. In recent years, plants have been focused research topic on the anticancer properties. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Malvaceae), an attractive plant believed to be native to China, India and Philippines. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the plant, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis leaves extracts, affects the viability of liver cancer cells. Four types of solvent extraction (methanol, acetone, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether) were used in this study. Using MTT assays, it showed that the extracts have the ability to reduce the viability of cancer cells in a dose dependence manner. From the result, it has been concluded that methanol extract of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the most potent in reducing the viability of cancer cells. According to these results, methanol extract of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is a promising agent to be further investigated as a natural source for a novel anticancer agent.