Experiments on Antiproliferative Activity of Aqueous Extract of Piper Betle L. and Psidium guajava L. on KB and HeLa Cell Lines

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of the aqueous extracts of Psidium guajava and
Piper betle plants on the proliferation of cancerous cell lines, that is, KB and HeLa cell line. Using the
neutral red cytotoxicity assay, the IC50 of P. guajava and P. betle were determined at 29.0 ± 0.4 and
29.5 ± 0.3 μg/ml, respectively, indicating both plant extracts equally potent for the treatment of
cancerous oral epidermal lesions. However, a less potent anti - proliferative activity was recorded by
P. guajava towards HeLa cell line with an IC50 of 51.0 ± 0.6 μg/ml, whereas P. betle extract did not
affect the proliferation of HeLa. The antiproliferative activity showed by both P. guajava and P. betle
aqueous extracts toward nasopharyngeal epidermoid carcinoma cells is indicative of their potential to
be developed as neutraceuticals for the prevention and management of cancerous oral epidermal
lesions. This cytotoxic property would be an added value that would complement the use of P.
guajava and P. betle as adjuncts in the formulation of oral health care products.