Abstract

This study aimed to screen the anticancer and antioxidant potential and antimicrobial activity of methanol, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol of Euphorbia hirta Linn. extracts (EH-Me, EH-PE, EH-Ch, EH-EA and EH-Bu, respectively). The results of 2,2-diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and lipid peroxidation inhibition assay showed that EH-EA was the strongest antioxidant (IC50 = 10.33 ± 0.01 µg/mL; IC50 = 1.48 ± 0.12 µg/mL, respectively) compared to all other extracts. In the antimicrobial activity of the extracts against eight strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using the agar disc diffusion method, we found the EH-EA to be the best antimicrobial agent. Anticancer activities of those extracts were examined by sulforhodamine B (SRB) in vitro cytotoxicity assay on two cancer cell lines, including lung cancer cells NCI-H460 and liver cancer cells Hep G2. EH-EA at concentration of 100 μg/mL has significant inhibitory activity the growth of lung cancer cells NCI-H460 and liver cancer cells Hep G2 compared to all other extracts. Our results suggest that E. hirta Linn. extracts possess significant biological activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and moderate anticancer properties. Our results show that this plant could be a good source for natural antioxidants and a possible pharmaceutical supplement. Among five analyzed extracts, EH-EA extract has the strongest activities, and should be used to determine phytochemicals and mechanisms of these activities.

Highlights

  • Since ancient times, herbs have been confirmed for their biological ability to relief pain, prevent diseases and cure illnesses

  • The results reveal that three extracts (EH-petroleum ether (PE), EH-Ch, EH-ethyl acetate (EA)) are potentially effective in suppressing bacterial growth with variable potency

  • The results show that EH-Ch extract and EH-EA exhibited antibacterial inhibitory effect better than other extracts

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Summary

Introduction

Herbs have been confirmed for their biological ability to relief pain, prevent diseases and cure illnesses. Scientists around the world have developed a research system for medicinal plants and their medicinal properties. Each plant species contains hundreds to thousands of different constituent chemicals that interact in complex ways in the bodies of animals and human [1,2,3]. In developing countries, according to estimates by the World Health Organization, about 80% of the population still depends on folk medicines made from plants for prevention and treatment [4]. Traditional medicine or folk medicine has been proven to be more affordable, clinically effective and has relatively less adverse effects than modern drugs [5,6,7].

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