Abstract
BackgroundAnisochilus carnosus (L.f.) wall (Lamiaceae), an annual herb which grows at high altitude is used extensively in folk medicine for the treatment of ailments such as gastric ulcer and skin diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate the anticancer activity of different extracts of the leaves of A.carnosus. An attempt was also made to estimate the luteolin content in different extracts of Anisochilus carnosus by HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography).MethodsIn the current study, we explored the cytotoxic potential of petroleum ether, ethanolic and aqueous extracts of A.carnosus against breast adenocarcinoma cell line (BT-549), by in vitro MTT and SRB assay. We also detected the luteolin content in different extracts (ethanolic and aqueous) of A.carnosus by using HPLC as a tool of analysis.ResultsThe results demonstrate that petroleum ether and ethanolic extract of A.carnosus showed potent cytotoxic effect against BT-549 with an IC50 of 22.5 μg/ml (petroleum ether extract) and 87.24 μg/ml (ethanolic extract), by SRB assay, and 18.35 μg/ml (petroleum ether extract) and 58.64 μg/ml (ethanolic extract), by MTT assay. The aqueous extracts showed less cytotoxic effect with an IC50 of 211.26 μg/ml (by SRB assay) and 238.91 μg/ml (by MTT assay). HPLC results of luteolin content in various extracts using luteolin as the marker compound indicated the ethanol extract to contain the highest concentration of luteolin (0.372% w/w). The aqueous extract contained lower concentration of luteolin (0.282% w/w).ConclusionOur findings demonstrate that petroleum ether and ethanolic extract of A.carnosus shows promising anticancer activity and has the potential to be developed into a therapeutic option for the treatment of cancer.
Highlights
Anisochilus carnosus (L.f.) wall (Lamiaceae), an annual herb which grows at high altitude is used extensively in folk medicine for the treatment of ailments such as gastric ulcer and skin diseases
Anisochilus carnosus (L.f.) wall, a member of the family Lamiaceae is an annual herb which grows on high altitude among small rocks
This paper reports the anticancer activity of different extracts of A.carnosus against BT-549, an estrogen independent breast adenocarcinoma cell line
Summary
Anisochilus carnosus (L.f.) wall (Lamiaceae), an annual herb which grows at high altitude is used extensively in folk medicine for the treatment of ailments such as gastric ulcer and skin diseases. According to Richard Doll and Richard Peto, 35% of death due to cancer is attributable to diet [7] In this regard, nutritional phytochemicals and plant derived constituents such as flavonoids, phytosterols, triterpenoids and essential oils hold enormous possibilities for development of a therapy with considerably fewer side effects for treatment and prevention of cancer [8]. It is widely used by many tribal communities of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Rajasthan for the treatment of cough, ulcer, eczema and stomach ache [12,13,14,15,16] Phytochemical analysis of this plant showed it to be rich in active compounds such as flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin) [17], phytosterols, triterpenoids, saponins, tannins [18] and essential oil components (carvacrol, α-cis-bergamotene, caryophyllene, β-selinene, camphor) [19]
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