Extracts of dedifferentiated cultures of Spilanthes acmella Murr. possess antioxidant and anthelmintic properties and hold promise as an alternative source of herbal medicine

Abstract

This study reports the antioxidant and anthelmintic activities of Spilanthes cell cultures. Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 5.0 μM N6-benzylaminopurine, 1.0 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 1.0 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid was found to be the best medium to induce dedifferentiation from the leaf cells and for further maintenance of the callus cultures. These cell cultures and in vivo leaves were subjected to solvent extraction by hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water, and their extraction yield and total phenolic contents were evaluated. The antioxidant activity of extracts was determined by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay. The methanol extracts of in vitro callus and in vivo leaf showed an apparent antioxidant activity and their IC50 values were 1342.9 and 1085.1 μg/ml, respectively. The anthelmintic efficacy of the extracts was also tested using live trematode (fluke) parasites of cattle as the model test material. The aqueous extract of dedifferentiated callus showed a strong anthelmintic activity, which was higher than the activity of the water extract of the field-grown plant. The results of this study verify the potential of Spilanthes as a reservoir of bioactive agents and also substantiate the value of callus cultures as a new source of anthelmintic and antioxidant compounds.