Cytotoxic activity of combined ethanolic extract of Cinnamomum Burmannii and Ocimum Tenuiflorum Linn against T47D cancer cells

Abstract

Cancer is one of the main causes of death in the world, including in Indonesia. Phytochemicals found in cinnamon bark and basil leaves can be used as alternative anti-cancer agents. This study was conducted to determine the cytotoxic activity of an ethanolic extract combination of Cinnamomum burmannii with Ocimum tenuiflorum Linn. against T47D cancer cells. Extraction of cinnamon bark and basil leaves was performed using ethanol 96%. Cinnamon bark was extracted by sonication, while basil leaves were extracted by maceration. The qualitative test of cinnamon bark was done with test tubes, while that of basil leaves used thin layer chromatography with silica gel GF₂₅₄ for the stationary phase and n-hexane: ethyl acetate (7.5: 2.5) for the mobile phase. An MTT assay was used for the cytotoxicity test. Results from the qualitative methods showed that cinnamon bark contains phenols, quinones, and saponins, while basil leaves contain alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, and terpenoids. The IC₅₀ value of Cinnamomum burmannii was 465.21 µg/mL, while that of Ocimum tenuiflorum Linn. was 267.88 µg/mL. In the combinational cytotoxic test, effects were interpreted by the combination index (CI) value. The combinational cytotoxic test found that the Cinnamomum ethanolic extract (500 µg/mL) and that of Ocimum (500 and 50 µg/mL) together produced synergistic effects.