Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of the aqueous extract of Allium sativum (Lilliaceae) on macrophage cells of the Raw-264.7 line by the cytotoxic concentration method (CC50)

The present work aims to identify, determine the presence and quantities of the chemical groups contained in the aqueous extract of Allium sativum, and to evaluate its cytotoxicity in order to justify its multiple biological activities and its therapeutic indications in traditional medicine for better evaluation in human health. An in vitro study was carried out at the bacteriology laboratory of the Central Hospital of Yaoundé and at the Nutrition and Nutritional Biochemistry laboratory of the University of Yaoundé 1. An aqueous extract of Allium sativum was prepared by cold maceration. To highlight the presence or absence of secondary metabolites, specific qualitative phytochemical tests based on discoloration, precipitation or turbidity reactions were carried out, using the methods of Pascual et al. [1] and [2]. The characterization of the chemical constituents was done by specific reactions. The investigation for these phytochemical groups were carried out on the aqueous extract following the protocols usually used the methods of Singleton et al. [3], Ghorai et al. [4] and Fernanda et al. [5]. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the extract was evaluated on Raw cells 264.7 murine macrophage cell lines, provided by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research at the University of Ghana. The cells were maintained in continuous culture in the laboratory and subsequently used for the cytotoxicity test. The evaluation of the cytotoxicity of the aqueous extract of Allium sativum and the positive control (Dimethyl Sulfoxide) were carried out on macrophage cells of the Raw-264.7 line using the cytotoxic concentration method (CC50). The aqueous extract had a yield of 37.84%. The CC50 value for the aqueous extract of Allium sativum is greater than 1000 μg/mL, while for Dimethyl Sulfoxide (5%) the CC50 value is 0.08275 ± 0.00367 μg/mL. At the end of this study, we were able to evaluate the phytochemical screening of the plant.  It appears that our extract contains high amounts of polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids and terpenoids. These results suggest an interesting potential of our extract with potential antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, vasculoprotective, antispasmodic, antioxidant and/or immunomodulatory properties. No significant cytotoxic effect of the aqueous extract of Allium sativum was observed on murine macrophages. These results suggest that the plant can be used in traditional therapeutic treatments. Furthermore, a more in-depth study by phytochemical sorting followed by chromatography will allow us to isolate the active molecules of Allium sativum in order to justify its multiple biological activities, its therapeutic indications in traditional medicine and in order to offer an available and affordable phytomedicine. accessible to the global community.