Cytotoxic Effects and Anticancer Activity Assay of Sonneratia alba Fruit on Cancer Cell Cultures CaCo-2 and MCF-7

Background and Objective: Sonneratia alba has a variety of bioactivities due to its secondary metabolites, one of its potential is as an anti-cancer agent. There are some previous studies on the toxicity of this plant. However, there is no information about the cytotoxic activity of the fruit part against colon and breast cancer cell cultures. Therefore, the study investigated the ethanol extract of Sonneratia alba, thus adding evidence of its potential as an anti-cancer agent. Materials and Methods: Sonneratia alba fruit extract was obtained using 70% ethanol through the maceration technique. Initial screening was done using the Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) method and continued with the WST-1 assay on colon cancer cell line (CaCo-2) and breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The Cytotoxicity of Sonneratia alba fruit was determined by the LC₅₀ value derived from probit analysis and the IC₅₀ value obtained through regression analysis. Results: The study found the ethanol extract of Sonneratia alba fruit was toxic to shrimp larvae, causing significant mortality. In breast cancer cell line MCF-7, the extract exhibited moderate cytotoxicity, indicating a potential for therapeutic application. Conversely, the extract showed only mild cytotoxic effects on CaCo-2 colon cancer cells, suggesting a lower efficacy against this cell type. Conclusion: Further research on specific bioactive compounds and their mechanisms of action can provide valuable insights into the therapeutic potential of Sonneratia alba in cancer treatment.