Original Articles
Hardoko, Dita Primaoktasa and
Abstract
Seagrass is a plant that lives in tidal areas, possesses unique secondary metabolites, which have roles as anticancer bioactive compounds. The aim of this research was to determine the potential of seagrassCymodecea serrulatafresh leaves extract as an anticancer agent. The method used was experimental method through continuous extraction towards seagrass leaves using n-hexane (non-polar), ethyl acetate (semi polar) and ethanol (polar). Extract obtained was analyzed for its anticancer activity by in vitro using HeLa cell. Results showed that non-polar extract has no anticancer activity, while semipolar and polar extract showed their potential as an anticancer agent. HeLa cell lethality level by semi polar extract was higher than polar extract, but not significantly different with cancer medicine doxorubicin. HeLa cell lethality by semi polar extract, polar extract and doxorubicin are 48.11%, 15.32 % and 48.75%, respectively. Ethyl acetic crude extract of fresh seagrass contain phytochemical compounds of alkaloid, terpenoid, polyphenol and flavonoid.