Efficiency Evaluation and Usages of Thunbergia alata, Thunbergia erecta and their Combination

Abstract

Thunbergiaalata and Thunbergiaerecta have been mostly used for ornamentation but have interesting other uses. However, toxicity and phytochemical studies of these plants are lacking. Therefore, phytochemicals of the two species were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were tested via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and comet assays in normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Then, the extracts of the two species and their combination were applied to peripheral blood mononuclear cells poisoned with rice whisky and bathroom cleaner as toxic models in everyday life. The results showed that the major phytochemicals were 12.36 % and 24.90 % phytol in ethanol extracts of Thunbergia alata and Thunbergia erecta and 46.29 % and 43.47 % oleamide in hexane extracts of Thunbergia alata and Thunbergia erecta, respectively. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration values, which indicate toxicity in cells, were not detected for either species, but at the deoxyribonucleic acid level, the extracts induced significant deoxyribonucleic acid damage, shown by high Olive Tail Moment values in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (p<0.05). Biological activity of the extracts revealed by higher cell viability percentages and lower Olive Tail Moment values in the treatments (poisoned peripheral blood mononuclear cells treated with plant extracts) than the controls (poisoned peripheral blood mononuclear cells). Taking all the results together, Thunbergia alata and Thunbergia erecta extracts and their combination can be applied for many benefits in humans following properties that have been previously used and their phytochemicals but have limitations of doses.