Soursop leaves (Annona muricata L.) endophytic fungi anticancer activity against HeLa cells

Cervical cancer causes many deaths in females worldwide, including in Indonesia. Several studies have reported that soursop (Annona muricata L.) leaves can be used to treat cervical cancer. This study aims to determine the use of endophytic fungi of A. muricata leaves extract as an ingredient that inhibits cervical cancer. The isolated endophytic fungi from various soursop leave accessions were grown in culture media, then extracted using ethyl acetate. The extract was then tested against anti-yeast, cervical cancer cells, and on normal cells as control using the MTT method. Five isolated fungi were selected based on the greatest inhibition in one concentration, and the inhibitory concentration 50 (IC₅₀) value was determined. The soursop leaves endophytic fungi extracts showed cytotoxicity against cervical cancer cells by inhibiting the multiplication of HeLa cancer cells in vitro. The Sir-SM2 endophytic fungi crude ethyl acetate extract showed high cytotoxicity to cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells) but less harmful to the normal Chang cells; therefore can be a natural anticancer. Identification based on morphology shows that the isolated Sir-SM2 endophytic fungi belong to the Penicillium genus, and molecular identification based on Internal Transcribed Spacer shows high similarities with Penicillium crustosum.