L. H Saqban - Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq
Z Abdul Alamir Mezher - Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq
I Hussain Ali - Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq

The Citrullus colocynthis L is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. Several pharmacological investigations have been performed based on the medicinal application of Citrullus colocynthis. The anticancer and antidiabetic activities of fruit and seed extracts of Citrullus colocynthis have been studied. Newly developed anticancer/antitumor medications appear to have been developed based on the extracted chemicals from Citrullus colocynthis due to the high contents of cucurbitacins. The present study aimed to identify the cytotoxic effect of the crude alcoholic extract of plants of Citrullus colocynthis on the growth of human hepatocyte carcinoma (Hep-G۲). The results of the chemical (preliminary) examination of the extract indicated that the fruits contain most of the secondary metabolites including Flavonoids, Tannins, Sapiens, Resins, Amino acids, Glycosides, Terpenes, Alkaloids, and Flavonoids. The toxicological effect of the crude extract was investigated by using six half dilutions concentrations of ۲۰,۱۰,۵,۲.۵,۱.۲۵, and ۰.۶۲۵ µg/m at three exposure periods of ۲۴,۴۸, and۷۲ h using MTT testing. The toxicological effect of the extract appeared for all six concentrations in the Hep-G۲ cell line. The highest concentration of ۲۰ µg/ml had the highest percentage inhibition rate with a significant difference (P≤۰.۰۱) and reached ۹۳.۳۶ ±۱.۶۱ after ۷۲ h of exposure. While the lowest concentration of ۰.۶۲۵ μg/ml was recorded rate of inhibition of ۲۳.۳۶ ± ۲.۳۴ after ۲۴ h of exposure. The findings of the present study concluded that the Citrullus colocynthis is one of the most promising medicinal plants which effectively treats cancer through its inhibitory effect and fatal toxicity on cancer cells.

Citrullus colocynthis, Cucurbitacin, human hepatocyte carcinoma, Inhibition Rate