Evaluation of antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of Alocasia odora (Roxb.) K. Koch extract

Abstract

Alocasia odora (Roxb.) K. Koch is a traditional medicinal plant widely used in Vietnam to treat diseases related to anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties; however, its biological activities have not been comprehensively investigated. This study evaluates the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of the Alocasia odora (Roxb.) K. Koch extract (AOE). AOE exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Their inhibition zone diameters ranged from 4.06 ± 0.11 mm to 26.55 ± 0.25 mm, and from 9.21 ± 0.25 mm to 13.23 ± 0.24 mm, respectively, at concentrations between 100 and 800 µg/µL. The MIC and MBC values were 25 µg/µL and 50 µg/µL with S. aureus and 50 µg/µL and 100 µg/µL with P. aeruginosa. The antioxidant capacity with IC₅₀ values of 566.16 µg/mL and 1487.07 µg/mL, determined with DPPH and ABTS methods, respectively, and a low Fe-reducing ability with an IC₅₀ of 2100 µg/mL. Anticancer activity of AOE was tested at concentrations from 0.8 to 100 µg/mL on four common human cancer cell lines: MKN-7 (gastric cancer), HepG2 (liver cancer), A549 (lung cancer), and HT-29 (colon cancer). At a 100 µg/mL concentration, the inhibition rate ranged from 23.93% (A549) to 35.51% (HepG2). These preliminary results showed the potential biological activities of Alocasia odora (Roxb.) K. Koch and provided a basis for future studies on its medically valuable compounds.