Phytochemical Screening and Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Fruits of Solanum torvum Swartz (Solanaceae) on HFF Cells (Human Foreskin Fibroblasts)

Objective: The aim of this work is to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of the 70% ethanolic extract of the fruits of Solanum torvum Swartz (Solanaceae) on HFF (Human Foreskin Fibroblast) cells in in vitro culture and to determine its phytochemical composition.

Study Plan: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in August 2015 in the Haut-Sassandra Region (Ivory Coast), on medicinal plants with multiple uses, and at the end of this survey the fruits of Solanum torvum have been selected then harvested in the Sub-prefecture of Bédiala (Ivory Coast). Then after drying, the ethanolic extract of the fruits was prepared and sent to France in February 2016 at the Laboratory Adaptation and Pathogenesis of Microorganisms (LAPM) of Grenoble for cytotoxic tests. Phytochemical screening was carried out at the Faculty of Biological Sciences of Félix Houphouët Boigny University (Côte d'Ivoire).

Methods: From an ethnobotanical survey, the fruits of Solanum torvum were harvested. The 70% ethanolic extract prepared from the fruits of this plant was tested in vitro on divisional HFF cells after phytochemical screening.

Results: The result revealed that this extract has cytotoxic activity on the tested HFF cells. At 800 μg/mL, the survival rate of HFF cells increased from 100% to 4% of living cells. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of compounds such as alkaloids, tannins, polyphenols, saponins and flavonoids.

Conclusion: This extract is cytotoxic on HFF cells. It is, therefore, necessary to continue studies on toxicity and to be cautious in the use of solanum torvum fruits in traditional medicine.