Chemical composition and anticancer effects of Hyptis Suaveolens L. Poit (lamiaceae) volatile oil

The leaf of Hyptis suaveolens have found application in ethnomedicine in the treatment of various ailments including those that are related to tumor and cancer. This study was therefore undertaken to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of its volatile oil. Volatile oil distilled from freshly collected leaves using a Clavenger-type apparatus was screened using tadpoles of Raniceps ranninus (10-40 µg/mL) and brine shrimp of Artemia salina (10-1000 µg/mL) with bench-top assay procedures for cytotoxicity while growth inhibitory activity was assessed using radicles of Sorghum bicolor seeds (1-30 mg/mL). The essential oils were further tested on breast cancer (AU 565) and cervical cancer (HeLa) at 50 µg /mL using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and afterwards subjected to Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometric (GCMS) analysis for its constituents. An LC50 of 188.67 and 8 µg/mL were obtained in the brine shrimp mortality and tadpole lethality assays respectively. The oil showed inhibitions of 86.74 and 21.8 % against AU 565 and HeLa cells respectively. GCMS analysis revealed the major constituents as sabinene (10.64 %) and (-)-4-terpineol (7.27 %). These results support its use in treating tumor-related ailments and should be considered for further studies

Chemical composition and anticancer effects of Zingiber officinale volatile oil

Zingiber officinale rhizome is used in ethnomedicine in treating tumor-related ailments. This study was undertaken to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of this plant. The oil was extracted using a Clavenger apparatus by hydro-distillation method. Preliminary screening was carried out with brine shrimp cytotoxicity test at 10-1000 µg/mL. The volatile oil was further tested on breast cancer (AU 565) and cervical cancer (HeLa) at 50 µg /mL using MTT assay and later subjected to GCMS analysis. LC50 of 157.75 µg/mL was obtained in the brine shrimp mortality assay. Z. officinale oil showed high anticancer activities with 50 and 43 % inhibitions against HeLa and AU 565 cells respectively. GCMS analysis revealed the major constituents of Z. officinale oil as a-citral (11.68 %) and a-citral (10.18 %). These results suggest the medicinal potency of this plant oil

Evaluation of Anticonvulsant Activity of Kochia Scoparia L. Schrad (Amaranthaceae) Volatile Oil

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological disorders. Most antiepileptic or anticonvulsant drugs do not prevent or reverse the pathological process that underlies epilepsy, hence the continuous search for new therapeutic agents with minimal side effects and greater efficacy.Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine the acute toxicity profile and investigate the anticonvulsant activity of volatile oil of Kochia scoparia (Amaranthaceae ).Method: Volatile oil was extracted from fresh leaves of K. scoparia through hydrodistillation process, using a Clavenger-type apparatus. Acute toxicity testing was done using Lorke’s method. The anticonvulsant models used were pentylenetetrazol, strychnine and maximal electroshock. Albino mice were randomly divided into five groups (n=5). Group I (control group) was given 0.2 ml each of water orally while groups II, III and IV received 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg of the volatile oil. Group V received the standard drug solution; 30 mg/kg phenobarbitone for Maximal electroshock and 2 mg/kg diazepam for pentylenetetrazol and strychnine models. The onset of tonic leg extension, duration and protection from mortality were noted.Results: Sub acute toxicity test revealed that doses above 1000mg/kg of the volatile oil is toxic. Doses of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg significantly (P<0.05) protected the mice against seizures with scores of 20, 20 and 40 % respectively in both Maximal electroshock and pentylenetetrazol induced convulsion models. No protection was offered in strychnine induced convulsion model; P > 0.05.Conclusion: The volatile oil of K. scoparia could be useful in the management of epilepsy

Cytotoxic Activity jof Dialium Guineense Wild (Fabaceae) Fruit and Stem Bark Methanol Extracts and Fractions

Background: Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrollable multiplication and spread of abnormal forms of the body’s own cells. Due to the challenges of orthodox drugs other treatment options are being investigated. Dialium guineense has found ethnomedicinal application in the management of various ailments including cancer. Objectives: To evaluate the cytotoxic activity of D. guineense fruit and stem bark extracts using preliminary and confirmatory methods. Material and method: Preliminary screening was carried out on the extracts using bench-top assay methods for cytotoxicity involving the use of tadpoles of Raniceps ranninus (20-200 µg/mL) and growth inhibition with radicle of Sorghum bicolor seeds (1-30 mg/mL). The extracts were further tested on a breast cancer cell line (AU 565) at 50 μg/mL using 3-(4, 5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Solvent partitioning of the stem bark extract was carried out using chloroform and the resulting fractions subjected to biological testing. Results: The stem bark extract showed 100 % mortality at 40 µg/mL in the tadpole lethality assay while the fruit showed no mortality. The aqueous fraction of the stem bark extract was also more active than the chloroform fraction with an LC50 of 32.4 μg/mL. A concentration dependent effect was observed in the growth inhibitory test using S. bicolor with 67.92 and 49.06 % reductions obtained for the stem bark and fruit extracts respectively. The chloroform fraction produced the highest anticancer effect with 46.55 % inhibition against AU 565 cell line. Conclusion: D. guineense stem bark has cytotoxic potential and is a good candidate for further in vivo anticancer studies