Cytotoxicity study of aqueous extract of Asam Gelugur (Garcinia cambogia) against Vero cell line: Implications for nutraceutical safety

Garcinia cambogia, commonly known as Asam Gelugur, has entrenched itself as a traditional herbal medicine, renowned for its applications in treating obesity and its integration into global nutraceutical formulations. The bioactive compounds within, particularly hydroxy citric acid, mediate various effects. This study aims to assess the in vitro cytotoxicity of Taxol, a cytotoxic drug used as a control, and the aqueous extract from Garcinia cambogia against the Vero cell line - a kidney-like cell. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimetyl-2-2thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The assay relies on mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase's potential to reduce MTT, providing a colorimetric indication of cell viability. The results revealed an IC50 value exceeding 500 µg/mL for the aqueous extract from Garcinia cambogia significantly higher than Taxol's 0.0581 µg/mL. This higher IC50 value implies lower toxicity, positioning the Garcinia cambogia extract as a safe component in nutraceuticals and herbal supplements. The aqueous extract of Garcinia cambogia demonstrates low cytotoxicity, reinforcing its safety profile for use in nutraceuticals, which contributes valuable insights into the safety considerations of incorporating Garcinia cambogia into herbal supplements.