Identification of Bioactive Compounds in Water Extract of Sarang Semut (Myrmecodia Pendans) Bulb and Its Potential for the Inhibition of Hela and MDA-MB-231 Cancer Cells

Sarangsemut (Myrmecodiapendans) or ant-nest plant is a potential medicinal plant. The water extract of this plant is well-known to cure many kinds of disease including cancer. Phytochemicals present in this plant are suspected to be responsible for its health benefits. Water extract obtained at 100C and 30 min extraction shows the highest radical scavenging activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the highest cytotoxicity towards cervix (HeLa) and breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cells. The water extract is fractionated using n-hexane, ethyl acetate and n-Butanol. The n-Butanol fraction is found to contain the highest amount of total phenolic content, DPPH scavenging and cancer cell cytotoxic activities. Identification of bioactive compounds in the n-Butanol fraction is performed using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and ultraviolet detector. Forty-eight antioxidant compounds are identified in the water extract, and 37 compounds among them are reported for the first time. cytotoxic activities. Identification of bioactive compounds in the n-Butanol fraction was performed using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and ultraviolet detector. Forty-eight antioxidant compounds were identified in the water extract, and 37 compounds among them were reported for the first time