|
|
Research Article
In Vitro
Safety Assessment of the Effect of Five Medicinal Plants
on Human Peripheral Lymphocytes
KN
Varalakshmi*, CG Sangeetha, US Samee, G Irum, H Lakshmi
and SP Prachi
Department of
Biotechnology, Centre for Post-Graduate Studies, Jain
University, 18/3, 9th Main, III Block,
Jayanagar, Bangalore – 560 011, India
*For correspondence:
E-mail:
varalakshmikn@yahoo.co.in or
varalakshmikn.cpgs@jaingroup.info Tel: +91-80-43226500;
Fax: +91-80- 43226500
Received: 3
May
2010
Revised accepted: 2 December 2010
Tropical
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, February 2011;
10(1):
33-40
Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate, using ethnomedical data approach, five
Indian plants used in traditional medicine for cancer
and other diseases for their safety and cytotoxic
activity on human lymphocytes.
Methods:
The antiproliferative effect of the 50, 100 and 200 μg/ml
aqueous extracts of five plants (leaves of Phyllanthus
niruri, Coleus aromaticus, Azadirachta indica and
Camellia sinensis, and dried fruit rind of Garcinia
indica) were evaluated in vitro using trypan blue dye
exclusion and clonogenic assay methods on two cell lines
- Balb/c 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and human peripheral
lymphocytes.
Results:
Among the five plants used traditionally to treat cancer
and other infections, two of them (A. indica and C.
aromaticus) exhibited cytotoxic effects on lymphocytes.
Two other plants (G. indica and P. niruri) exhibited
pronounced cytotoxic effects. Another plant (Camellia
sinensis) exhibited cytostimulatory effect (> 50 % cell
proliferation). For the plants that are traditionally
used in anticancer therapy, there was a correlation
between the reported use of these plants and their
cytotoxic activity on lymphocytes.
Conclusion:
The plant extracts of the leaves of P. niruri, C,
aromaticus and A. indica, and the dried fruit rind of G.
indica are cytotoxic to lymphocytes and this lends some
credence to their traditional use for cancer treatment.
However, green tea (C. sinensis) is cytostimulatory and
safe for consumption.
Keywords:
Balb/c mouse fibroblasts, Cytostimulatory, Cytotoxic,
Lymphocytes, Traditional medicine.
|
