Cytotoxic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Cota tinctoria (L.) J.Gay on AGS and Hep-G2 cancer cell lines

Cota tinctoria is a medicinal plant which has been used for management of cancer in folk medicine of various regions. The aim of present study is to investigate cytotoxic activity of different concentrations of hydroalcoholic extract of C. tinctoria flowers on gastric (AGS) and liver (Hep-G2) cancer cell lines as well as Human Natural GUM fibroblast (HUGU) cells. Cell mortality rates were examined after 24, 48 and 72 h incubations using the MTT assay. IC50 of extract on AGS cells after 24, 48 and 72h was 1.46, 1.29 and 1.14 µg/mL respectively. The extract demonstrated IC50 of 5.15, 3.92 and 2.89 µg/mL on Hep-G2 cells after 24, 48 and 72 h respectively. No cytotoxic effect was detected on HUGU (Human Natural GUM fibroblast) cells. C. tinctoria seems to have a promising potential to be considered as a source for anticancer drug discovery. However, more experimental and clinical studies are required.

Comparative Evaluation of the Potential Antitumor of Helleborus purpurascens in Skin and Breast Cancer

In the field of oncology, the plant kingdom has an inexhaustible supply of bioactive compounds. Phytochemical compounds isolated from Helleborus species have been found to be useful in various chronic diseases. This has brought Helleborus to the attention of medical researchers. H. purpurascens is a plant characteristic of the Carpathian area, known since ancient times for its beneficial effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the flavonoids composition of a hydroalcoholic extract of H. purpurascens, as well as to assess its antioxidant activity and antitumor potential at the level of two healthy cell lines and four tumor cell lines. In addition, the expression of the genes involved in the apoptotic process (Bcl-2, Bad, and Bax) were evaluated. The results indicated that the extract has a high concentration of flavonoids, such as epicatechin, quercetin, and kaempferol. The extract has an increased antioxidant activity, very similar to that of the standard, ascorbic acid and cytotoxic effects predominantly in the breast cancer cell line, being free of cytotoxic effects in healthy cell lines. Underlying the cytotoxic effect is the induction of the process of apoptosis, which in the present study was highlighted by decreasing the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-2) and increasing the expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Bad and Bax). In conclusion, the hydroalcoholic extract of H. purpurascens can be considered an important source for future medical applications in cancer therapy.

Effect of stem bark hydroalcoholic extract of cocoa (T. Cacao) on liver function of Wistar albino rats induced with anaemia

The study investigated the effect of stem bark hydroalcoholic extract of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) on liver function of phenlyhydrazine (PHZ)-induced forty anaemic (treated) and normal albino rats divided into 8 groups of five rats each in the study. The activities of marker enzymes such as aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), were assayed. In addition serum total protein, total bilirubin, albumin were determined. There was a significantly (p<0.05) decrease in AST of anaemic not treated rats compared to normal control rats with the exception of serum total protein, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, albumin, ALT and ALP where no significant (p>0.005) change was recorded. In the group (anaemic rats) treated with bark extract of Theobroma cacao at the doses of 100, 200, and 500mg/kg, AST was significantly (p<0.05) reduced while there was significant (p>0.05) increase in serum total protein, total bilirubin, albumin, ALT and ALP. In the group (non anaemic rats) treated with graded doses of the extract 200mg, 500mg and 1000mg, there was a significant (p<0.05) of total bilirubin diect bilirubin, and AST while no significant (p>0.05) change was recorded. The study illustrate that the bark extract of Theobroma cacao possess antioxidant and membrane permeability properties. Dose of Theobroma cacao at 500mg does not have antianaemic potentials.

Anti-depressant Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Asperula odorata L. in Mice

Background: The relationship between the treatment of depression and plant-derived substances (e.g., flavonoids, coumarin, and scopoletin) has been demonstrated through interference with the monoamine system. The present study was planned to evaluate the anti-depressant effects of Asperula odorata L. plant through behavioral tests in mice. Material and Methods: In this experimental study, 35 male Syrian mice weighing 30-40 g were examined in five groups (n=7) as follow: received oral distilled water gavage (control), 10 mg/kg of fluoxetine solution gavage (reference standard), 10, 5, and 2.5 mg/kg of A. odorata L. extract gavage (treatment groups). After one week, all behavioral tests, including tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST), open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze test (EPMT), and fractionation tests were performed each morning for 4-6 h within five days. Results: The hydroalcoholic extract of A. odorata contained phenolic and flavonoid substances (Shinoda test confirmed flavonoid family). Administration of extract (10 and 5 mg/kg doses) versus fluoxetine (10 mg/kg dose) reduced the immobility of animals in both FST and TST (P<0.05). At the OFT, the administered extract increased the number of central square entries of animals with higher mobility (P<0.05). At a 10 mg/kg dose, the active flavonoid ingredients increased the mice's incline to entre and spent more time within no wall parts of EPMT (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that the hydroalcoholic extract of A. odorata L. could have significant anti-depressant activity. [GMJ.2021;10:e2206]

Identification of Bioactive Phytocomponents of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Enhalus acoroides by Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Sea grass are good source of potent drug which has medicinal properties and able to cure human disease. One such marine plant is the Enhalus acoroides which belong to hydrocharitaeceae family. This marine species are widely distributed in the tropics of Indian and western Pacific Ocean and the species were collected from Ramanathapuram district for further process. This study reveals about the bioactive components present in Enhalus acoroides and identified its biological activity by Gas chromatography Mass spectrometry analysis using hydroalcoholic extract. The compounds present in Enhalus acoroides are Benzoic acid, 2- methyl 7- oxa bicyclol heptanes, 1, 3 Nonadiene, silane, ethoxytriethyl. Biological activities of the compounds present in the sample include antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antiviral and anti-hepatotoxic effect.