The objective of this study is to investigate the anticancer potential of the extract of Colocasia gigantea C. gigantea),
a plant member of the Araceae family. In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxic activity of C. gigantea extract on
cervical cancer (Hela) and human white blood cells (WBC) in vitro. The authors then identified the bioactive ingredients that
demonstrated cytotoxicity on tested cells and evaluated those bioactive ingredients using the bioassay-guided fractionation
method. The results showed that not all parts of C. gigantea promote cytotoxic activity. The dichloromethane leaf fraction
showed significant cell proliferation effect on Hela cells, but not on WBCs. Only the n-hexane tuber fraction (Fr. 1T) exhibited
significant cytotoxicity on Hela cells (IC50 = 585 μg/ml) and encouraged WBC cell proliferation. From GC-Mass spectrometry,
4,22-Stigmastadiene-3-one, Diazoprogesterone, 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, hexyl ester, and Oleic Acid were the components of Fr. 1T that demonstrated cytotoxic potential. In conclusion, C. gigantea’s Fr. 1T shows potential for cervical cancer treatment.

Keywords: Colocasia gigantea (Araceae), Cervical cancer, Cytotoxicity, Bioactive ingredients