Phytochemical, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activity of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Ethanol Extract

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a wide-spreading and damaging aquatic plant in Indonesia, especially near lake areas. The use of water hyacinth as a drug candidate has yet to be carried out systematically and comprehensively. This study aims to investigate the relation between the content of secondary metabolites from plant parts, and the in vitro antioxidants, and cytotoxic activities. This research was carried out by extracting the plant’s leaves, stems, and roots using 96 ethanol and then evaporating the extract using a vacuum rotary evaporator and nitrogen gas. Each part of the plant extract was tested for antioxidant activity using ABTS and FRAP methods. In contrast, the cytotoxic assay was performed against human breast cancer cell lines, namely MCF-7, T47D, and MDA-MB 231. In addition, the secondary metabolite content, such as total tannin content (TTC) and total alkaloid content (TAC), was measured with colorimetric method using a visible spectrophotometer. The IC50 value was used to evaluate the activity of the extract in µg/mL units. The leaf extract had the best ABTS cation radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 42.91 ± 5.42 µg/mL. The high tannin content in the leaves (2.823 ± 0.139 mg TAE/g extract) is predicted to cause antioxidant activity. The best cytotoxic activity was found in leaf extracts against MCF-7 cells (IC50 38.27 ± 19.17 µg/mL). Tannins are considered the main secondary metabolites that have a role in water hyacinth leaf antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. © 2023 Eden et al.