Purpose: To evaluate the effect of boiling on in vitro bioactivities potency of Balanites aegyptiaca L. Delile (desert date) aqueous extract, a juice used traditionally for cooking ready-to-eat millet flour paste.

Methods: Desert date fruits (1.5 kg) were soaked in water (1:2, fruit: water) for 24 h and sieved. The extract was divided into two parts - fresh extract (Fext) and boiled extract (Bext) which was obtained by boiling a portion of Fext for 10 min. The extracts were tested against the stomach cancer cell line SGC7901 and for antioxidant activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-icrylhydrazyl DPPH, hydroxyl radical and ferric reducing power methods.

Results: Both fresh extract (Fext) and boiled extract (Bext) exhibited pronounced antioxidant activity with DPPH values of 88.2 and 97.0 %, respectively, at hydroxyl radical concentration of 5 mg/ml. The extract contained a significant amount of vitamin C (42.3 and 38.9 mg/100 g for Fext and Bext, respectively). Boiling had significant effect (p < 0.01) on its antioxidant activity and also on its cytotoxic effect (56 % and 44 % dead cells respectively for Bext and Fext at respectively, at a concentration of 200 μg/ml).

Conclusion: It is concluded that B. aegyptiaca aqueous extracts have remarkable cytotoxic activity against stomach cancer cell SGC7901.