Cytotoxicity of Carica papaya, Phyllanthus emblica, Syzygium aromaricum, and Citrus aurantifilia leaf extract against African Green monkey epithelial (Vero) cells and Aedes albopictus (C6/36) cells

Plant-based compounds are an important option in developing new drugs. Leaves of Nelli (Phyllanthus emblica), Pawpaw (Carica papaya), Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) consist of anti-microbial properties. This study aimed to identify the cytotoxicity of leaf extracts of Nelli, Pawpaw, Clove and Lime against Vero cells and Aedes albopictus C6/36 cells. CytoTox 96® is a colorimetric assay that quantitatively measures lactate dehydrogenase released upon cell lysis. Leaf extracts were prepared in two-fold dilution series. Two 96-well assay plates were prepared for each plant extract for Vero cells and C6/36 cells. The assay was set up with an analytical system based Negative control, Vehicle control and Positive control with four replicates. Plant extracts were added into the test wells at different concentrations and one plate was incubated for 5h and the next plate was incubated for 24 h at 37⁰C for Vero cells and 25⁰C for C6/36 cells. Absorbance data were measured using a standard 96-well plate reader. The cytotoxicity-driven colour intensity and absorbance values decreased with the decreasing concentrations of leaf extracts. High concentrations of the leaf extracts had cytotoxicity properties against both Vero cells and C6/36 cells.