The cytotoxic activity of the total alkaloids isolated from different parts of Solanum pseudocapsicum

The total alkaloid fractions of the methanolic extracts of the leaves, ripe fruits, roots, seeds and stem of Solanum pseudocapsicum were subjected to in-vitro cytotoxicity, short-term toxicity and long-term survival studies. All the five fractions exhibited potent activity. The total alkaloid fraction of leaves was found to be the most potent. The HT-29 cell line was the most sensitive to the fractions. The cytotoxic concentration (CTC₅₀) values for all these fractions ranged between 0.39-0.91, 0.68-2.8, 0.92-3.56, 4.05-8.2, 3.28-5.65 and 0.95-5.55 μg/ml, respectively for HT-29, RD-228, A-549, HEp-2, B₁₆F₁₀ and Vero cell lines. In short-term toxicity studies, the fractions showed 50% viability at 93-128 μg/ml for DLA cells and 141-189 μg/ml for human lymphocytes. In the long-term survival studies on the cell lines RD-228, HEp-2 and Vero, cells retained their regenerative capacities at concentrations below 8 μg/ml. The total alkaloids of the plant, especially from the leaves merit further investigations to identify the active constituents in animal models.