In vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of medicinal plants used in traditional Indian medicine to treat cancer

Figures & data

Table 1. Chemical compounds isolated and the medicinal properties of the selected plants

Plant	Compounds isolated	Medical use
Achyranthes aspera	Oleanolic acid, achyranthine, and betaine	Stomach troubles, stones in the bladder, opacity of the cornea, wounds, piles, pneumonia, renal dropsy, leprosy, tetanus, gonorrhoea, and cancer
Aegle marmelos	Allo-imperatorin, beta-sitosterol, marmelosin, tannic acid, auraptene, marmin, umbelliferone, and lupeol	Improve appetite, griping pain in the loins, constipation, gas, colic, sprue, scurvy, wheezing, and respiratory spasms
Amaranthus tristis	Amarantin, isoamarantin, and betanin	Bilious disorders, appetizer, intestinal and urinary discharges, cough, bronchitis, blood purifier, dropsy, astringent, dysentery, and diuretic
Asclepias curassavica	Oleanolic acid, uzarigenin, calactin, calotropin, coroglaucigenin, calotropagenin, uzarin, clepogenin, asclepogenin, curassavogenin, and ascurogenin	Piles, gonorrhoea, roundworm infection, and abdominal tumours
Blepharis maderaspatensis	–	Wounds, headache, and diuretic
Costus speciosus	Pinocarveool, cadinene, cineol, p-methoxybenzophenone, carvacrol, glyceollins II and III, diosgenin, tigogenin, lanosterol, stigmasterol, gracillin, and costusoside	Stomach troubles, asthma, cold, cholera, and dysentery
Cynodon dactylon	Campothecin, arundoin, furfural, furfural alcohol, beta-ionone, 2-(4′-hrdroxyphenyl) propionic acid, phytol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids	Leprosy and skin-related diseases, wound healing, and piles
Merremia emerginata		Rheumatism, neuralgia, treat cough, and ear sores
Ophiorrhiza mungos	Beta-sitosterol, 5α-ergost-7-en-3β-ol, 5α-ergost-8-(14)en-3β-ol, and hydrocyanic acid	Snakebite, scorpion sting, bites of mad dogs, stomach disorders, dressing ulcers, and cancer
Tabernaemontana heyneana	Myristic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid	Inflammation of the cornea

Table 2. DPPH and NO scavenging property of selected medicinal plants

	IC50 (μg/ml) DPPH	IC50 (μg/ml) NO
A. aspera
Hexane	953.16 ± 72.58	ND
Ethyl acetate	613.10 ± 46.69	892.69 ± 67.97
Methanol	753.13 ± 57.35	ND
A. marmelos
Hexane	124.02 ± 9.44	213.64 ± 16.27
Ethyl acetate	64.01 ± 4.87	111.22 ± 8.47
Methanol	83.01 ± 6.32	123.45 ± 9.40
A. tristis
Hexane	142.02 ± 10.81	284.17 ± 21.64
Ethyl acetate	93.02 ± 7.08	128.32 ± 9.77
Methanol	532.09 ± 40.52	736.10 ± 56.05
A. curassavica
Hexane	1003.14 ± 76.39	ND
Ethyl acetate	35.57 ± 2.71	62.87 ± 4.79
Methanol	625.22 ± 47.61	ND
B. maderaspatensis
Hexane	987.16 ± 75.17	ND
Ethyl acetate	372.06 ± 28.33	428.27 ± 32.61
Methanol	127.02 ± 9.67	175.06 ± 13.37
C. speciosus leaves
Hexane	745.48 ± 56.77	983.86 ± 74.92
Ethyl acetate	625.22 ± 47.61	843.64 ± 64.24
Methanol	897.73 ± 68.36	ND
C. speciosus roots
Hexane	845.28 ± 64.55	ND
Ethyl acetate	320.05 ± 24.37	550.28 ± 42.12
Methanol	234.04 ± 17.82	387.06 ± 29.47
C. dactylon
Hexane	874.15 ± 66.56	ND
Ethyl acetate	311.05 ± 23.69	450.08 ± 34.27
Methanol	63.03 ± 4.82	98.89 ± 7.53
M. emerginata
Hexane	150.39 ± 11.45	206.13 ± 15.70
Ethyl acetate	357.06 ± 27.19	512.77 ± 39.05
Methanol	514.09 ± 39.15	756.13 ± 57.58
O. mungos
Hexane	325.05 ± 24.75	563.09 ± 42.88
Ethyl acetate	96.02 ± 7.31	155.43 ± 11.84
Methanol	64.01 ± 4.87	115.69 ± 8.81
T. heyneana
Hexane	254.04 ± 19.34	400.07 ± 30.46
Ethyl acetate	340.17 ± 26.04	612.20 ± 46.62
Methanol	220.07 ± 16.75	361.06 ± 27.49
Vitamin C	5 ± 0.38	25.00 ± 1.90

ND, not detectable.

Each value represents the mean ± SD for six replications in each group.

Figure 1. Cytotoxic effects of the extracts of medicinal plants on four different cancer cell lines and a normal cell line at various time intervals. (A) A. curassavica; (B) O. mungos; (C) M. emerginata; (D) T. heyneana; (E) C. speciosus root; (F) A. tristis; (G) A. marmelos; (H) C. speciosus leaves. *P < 0.05 compared to other cell lines.

Table 3. Cytotoxic effects of the extracts of C. dactylon root on four different cancer cell lines and a normal cell line at various time intervals

	IC50 (μg/ml)
	VERO	AGS	MCF-7	A 549	COLO 320 DM
C. dactylon
24 hours
Hexane	99 ± 7^a	45 ± 3^d	52 ± 3^c	60 ± 4^b	50 ± 3^cd
Ethyl acetate	25 ± 1^b	23 ± 1^c	28 ± 2^a	25 ± 1^b	22 ± 1^c
Methanol	NT	21 ± 1^b	37 ± 2^a	15 ± 1^c	9 ± 0^bd
48 hours
Hexane	83 ± 6^a	31 ± 2^d	49 ± 3^b	52 ± 4^b	43 ± 3^c
Ethyl acetate	20 ± 1^a	15 ± 1^b	12 ± 0^c	16 ± 1^b	10 ± 0^d
Methanol	ND	11 ± 0^b	20 ± 1^a	8 ± 0^c	6 ± 0^d
72 hours
Hexane	54 ± 4^a	28 ± 2^d	36 ± 2^c	43 ± 3^b	36 ± 2^c
Ethyl acetate	16 ± 1^a	10 ± 0^b	9 ± 0^c	11 ± 0^b	8 ± 0^c
Methanol	684 ± 52^a	8 ± 0^b	15 ± 1^b	6 ± 0^b	4 ± 0^b

ND, not detectable.

Each value represents the mean ± SD for six replicates in each group.

Different letters in a row indicate P < 0.05 by DMRT.

Table 4. Cytotoxic effects of the extracts of A. aspera on four different cancer cell lines and a normal cell line at various time intervals

	IC50 (μg/ml)
	VERO	AGS	MCF-7	A 549	COLO 320 DM
A. aspera
24 hours
Hexane	221 ± 16^b	142 ± 10^d	98 ± 7^e	182 ± 13^c	241 ± 18^a
Ethyl acetate	741 ± 56^a	346 ± 26^d	421 ± 32^c	515 ± 39^b	441 ± 33^c
Methanol	682 ± 51^a	224 ± 17^c	315 ± 24^b	285 ± 21^b	321 ± 24^b
48 hours
Hexane	185 ± 14^b	115 ± 8^d	82 ± 6^e	152 ± 11^c	212 ± 16^a
Ethyl acetate	687 ± 52^a	291 ± 22^e	342 ± 26^d	468 ± 35^b	386 ± 29^c
Methanol	412 ± 31^a	196 ± 14^c	286 ± 21^b	206 ± 15^c	294 ± 22^b
72 hours
Hexane	156 ± 11^b	84 ± 6^d	63 ± 4^e	131 ± 10^c	189 ± 14^a
Ethyl acetate	212 ± 16^d	246 ± 18^c	254 ± 19^b	183 ± 14 ^e	266 ± 20 ^a
Methanol	394 ± 30^a	152 ± 11^c	192 ± 14^d	143 ± 10 ^c	235 ± 17 ^b

Each value represents the mean ± SD for six replicates in each group.

Different letters in a row indicate P < 0.05 by DMRT.

Table 5. Cytotoxic effects of the extracts of B. maderaspatensis on four different cancer cell lines and a normal cell line at various time intervals

	IC50 (μg/ml)
	VERO	AGS	MCF-7	A 549	COLO 320 DM
B. maderaspatensis
24 hours
Hexane	325 ± 24^a	ND	ND	ND	ND
Ethyl acetate	150 ± 11^c	95 ± 7^d	145 ± 11^c	239 ± 18^b	624 ± 47^a
Methanol	89 ± 6^d	354 ± 27^a	245 ± 18^b	185 ± 14^c	106 ± 8^d
48 hours
Hexane	265 ± 20^a	ND	ND	ND	ND
Ethyl acetate	143 ± 10^b	86 ± 6^d	94 ± 7^d	184 ± 14^a	112 ± 8^bc
Methanol	72 ± 5^c	261 ± 19^a	135 ± 10^b	126 ± 9^b	79 ± 6^c
72 hours
Hexane	182 ± 13^a	ND	ND	ND	3334 ± 253^b
Ethyl acetate	86 ± 6^c	72 ± 5^b	80 ± 6^bc	153 ± 11^a	45 ± 3^d
Methanol	66 ± 5^d	221 ± 16^a	116 ± 8^b	91 ± 6^c	55 ± 4^d

ND, not detectable.

Each value represents the mean ± SD for six replicates in each group.

Different letters in a row indicate P < 0.05 by DMRT.

Table 6. Percentage of apoptosis induction of selected plant extracts in COLO 320 DM cells measured by flow cytometry using Annexin V FITC/PI

	Extract	Concentration (μg/ml)	Viable cells	Necrotic cells	Late apoptotic	Early apoptotic
Control			100	–	–	–
A. tristis	Ethyl acetate	25	67.10	23.15	8.43	1.32
		12.5	74.65	17.72	6.97	0.66
		6.25	89.13	6.13	4.21	0.53
		3.15	97.22	0.66	1.87	0.25
A. curassavica	Ethyl acetate	25	53.63	13.48	21.46	11.43
		12.5	59.48	14.78	16.53	9.21
		6.25	66.27	11.53	13.94	8.26
		3.15	74.27	7.86	10.56	7.31
C. speciosus root	Ethyl acetate	25	60.24	20.79	14.65	4.32
		12.5	68.46	17.38	11.53	2.63
		6.25	73.68	18.32	6.84	1.16
		3.15	80.86	19.14	5.90	0.95
	Methanol	25	59.68	13.26	17.43	9.63
		12.5	70.20	7.39	14.87	7.54
		6.25	81.13	1.75	11.76	5.36
		3.15	89.57	0.36	7.95	2.12
C. dactylon	Ethyl acetate	25	64.58	14.72	15.94	4.76
		12.5	77.33	7.78	11.43	3.46
		6.25	84.05	5.33	8.64	1.98
		3.15	91.55	3.18	4.59	0.68
	Methanol	25	76.66	1.07	15.43	6.84
		12.5	81.95	–	13.57	4.48
		6.25	88.25	–	9.21	2.54
		3.15	95.79	–	3.15	1.06
M. emerginata	Hexane	25	69.26	21.16	7.23	2.35
		12.5	76.92	18.53	4.42	0.13
		6.25	84.69	12.48	2.83	–
		3.15	93.58	5.25	1.17	–
O. mungos	Methanol	25	56.24	23.98	17.04	2.74
		12.5	70.68	13.74	13.53	2.05
		6.25	82.36	7.12	9.28	1.24
		3.15	87.47	5.34	6.32	0.87
T. heyneana	Ethyl acetate	25	57.61	39.96	2.31	0.12
		12.5	67.71	30.29	–	–
		6.25	77.13	22.87	–	–
		3.15	89.55	10.45	–	–

Values represent the percentage of cells.

–, No cells present.