Abstract:
Acute lymphocytic leukaemia is the most common leukemic cancer reported in children. Chemotherapy is the
preferred treatment even though it continues to pose negative side effects of toxicity. Medicinal plants are
reported to provide alternative treatment with lower toxicity levels. The three Amaryllidaceae species; Crinum
bulbispermum, Boophone disticha, and Amaryllis belladonna Linnaeus have been reported for their anti-leukemic
properties. These claims, however, lack supporting scientific data. The study aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative
activity of the three Amaryllidaceae species against the human K562 leukaemia cells, as well as their phytochemical
composition. The plants’ roots, bulbs and leaves were extracted with water, and sequentially with
selected organic solvents. Cell antiproliferation was investigated using the SRB assay. Thin Layer Chromatography
was performed to compare chemical profiles of different plant parts, and of plant samples collected fromdifferent
geographic areas. Most plant parts tested positive for terpenoids and flavonoids. Only the bulbs contained phytosterols
and alkaloids. Plant samples of C. bulbispermum obtained from two geographic areas had similar chemical
profiles. Water bulb extract of C. bulbispermum and B. disticha showed over 70% cell growth inhibition at
concentration of 10mg/ml, while their methanol extracts showed over 50% cell growth inhibition at 100mg/ml
and 10mg/ml.Methanol root extract of A. belladonna L exhibited 100% cell growth inhibition at the concentration
of 50mg/ml and over 80% at 25mg/ml concentration. In general, the polar extracts exhibited highest activity. The
cell antiproliferation results obtained in this study support the use of the selected Amaryllidaceae species to treat
leukemia as currently practiced in traditionalmedicine. The consistency of the constituents of the species, despite
of their collection points, could enable standardization of traditionalmedicines.
