A Study on Phytochemical and Anticancer Activities of Epiphytic Orchid Aerides odorata Lindl.

Aim: The present study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical composition and anticancer activities of leaf extract of Aerides odorata Lour., a widely distributed epiphytic herb found in the Eastern Ghats of Vizianagram district.

Methodology: The solvents like n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol were used to extract dried leaf material of A. odorata. These extracts were analysed for phytochemical constituents by GC-MS analysis and in vitro anticancer activity was done against two cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and HeLa cell line) by using MTT assay.

Results: Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, and terpenoids. GC-MS analysis determines presence of 15 compounds in ethyl acetate and 14 compounds in methanol extracts respectively. Among two extracts a total 13 compounds have anticancer activity. Both the solvent extracts exhibit significant cancer cell growth inhibition with IC50 value ranging between 26.211 µg/mL to 59.061 µg/mL.

Conclusion: Methanol about the best solvent and its activity. Our result showed A. odorata is a promising source of anticancer drugs.