Indigofera suffruticosa: An Alternative Anticancer Therapy

Indigofera suffruticosa Mill (Fabeceae) occurs in the Northeast countryside and has intensive popular use in the treatment of infectious, inflammatory and other processes. The main aim of the present work was to investigate the cytotoxic and antitumor effects of aqueous extracts of leaves of I. suffruticosa obtained by infusion and maceration as well as to evaluate the toxicological properties. Aqueous extracts did not exhibit cytotoxicity against HEp-2 (human epidermoid cancer cell) cell lines by MTT method. From the aqueous extract by infusion, the toxicological assay showed low order of toxicity. The antitumor effect of aqueous extracts by infusion (64.53%) and maceration (62.62%) against sarcoma 180 in mice at a dose of 50 mg kg−1 (intraperitoneally), based on low order of toxicity was comparable to the control group, which showed 100% development. Considering the low order of toxicity and that it is highly effective in inhibiting growth of solid tumors, the aqueous extracts of leaves of I. suffruticosa may be used as an alternative anticancer agent

Medicinal Plants Used as Antitumor Agents in Brazil: An Ethnobotanical Approach

We describe the medicinal plants that have been reported to be antitumor agents and that have been used in ethnobotanic research in Brazil to answer the following questions: what is the abundance of plants reported to be antitumor in Brazil? Have the plant species used for tumor treatment in traditional Brazilian medicine been sufficiently examined scientifically? Our analysis included papers published between 1980 and 2008. A total of 84 medicinal plant species were reported to be used for cancer and tumor prevention or treatment; 69.05% of these were cited as being used for the treatment of tumors and cancer in general and 30.95% for specific tumors or cancers. The plants that were cited at a higher frequency were Aloe vera, Euphorbia tirucalli, and Tabebuia impetiginosa. At least, one pharmacological study was found for 35.71% of the species. Majority of the studies selected were conducted in rural communities and urban areas and in areas with traditional healers in Brazil. We found the following molecules to be the most studied in vitro and in vivo: silibinin, β-lapachone, plumbagin and capsaicin. The species addressed here constitute interesting objects for future studies to various professionals in the field of natural products

Synthesis, Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial activities of 5-benzylidene-2- [(pyridine-2-ylmethylene)hydrazono]-thiazolidin-4-one Derivatives

A novel series of 5-benzylidene-2-[(pyridine-2-ylmethylene)hydrazono]-thiazolidin-4-ones 3a-i has been synthesized. 2-[(Pyridine-2-ylmethylene)hydrazono]-thiazolidin-4-ones 2a-c were also obtained and used as intermediates to give the target compounds. The in vitro cytotoxic activity was evaluated for both series. The findings obtained showed that the compounds 2a, 2b, 3b and 3c were effective against the HEp-2 cell lines with IC50 in the 1.6 - 0.5 μg/mL range, whereas the compounds 2a (IC50 = 3.6 μg/mL), 2b (IC50 = 2.4 μg/mL) and 3f (IC50 = 3.5 μg/mL) showed good inhibitory effects against HT-29 cell lines. As complementary biological test, all 4-thiazolidinones were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against various bacterial and fungal species.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

In vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of the flavonol glycosides isolated of Herissantia crispa (L.) Brizicky

This paper describes the cytotoxic and antitumoral activities of kaempferol 3-O-(6”-O-E-pcoumaroyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (tiliroside), kaempferol 3,7-di-O-α-L-rhamnoside (dhiramnoside) and of the mixture of sitosteryl-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and stigmasteryl-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (GM) isolated of the Herissantia crispa. The compounds did not present cytotoxic activity against NCI-H292, HEp-2 and KB cells. In vivo, dhiramnoside did not present significant inhibitory activity of the growth of sarcoma 180 when compared with the control group; however, tiliroside and GM-treated animals showed a high inhibition rate in the growth of the tumor. Tiliroside inhibits significantly the growth of the carcinoma of Ehrlich. In conclusion, tiliroside exhibited promising antitumor effects without an expressive toxicity.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Cytotoxic activity of Plectranthus barbatus Andr. (Lamiaceae)

Extratos brutos de raiz, caule e folhas de Plectranthus barbatus Andr. (Lamiaceae), foram testados frente às células NCI-H292 (obtidas de carcinoma mucoepidermóide de pulmão humano) e células HEp 2 (obtidas de carcinoma epidermóide de laringe). Extratos de acetona e de metanol da raiz mostraram atividade significativa frente às células NCI-H292. Células HEp-2 não foram sensíveis aos extratos de P. barbatus. A CI 50 foi determinada a partir de uma regressão linear, relacionandose o percentual de inibição celular em função do logaritmo das concentrações testadas (p<0,01).Cytotoxic Activity of Plectranthus barbatus Andr. (Lamiaceae). Crude extracts of Plectranthus barbatus Andr. (Lamiaceae) roots, stem and leaves, were tested against cell NCI-H292 (derivated from an pulmonary mucoepidermoid human carcinoma) and cell HEp-2 (derivated from an epidermoid carcinoma of the larynx). Acetonic and methanolic extracts of the roots showed significative activity agains NCI-H292 cell. The cell HEp 2 were not sensitive for P. barbatus extracts. The IC 50 was measured by linear regression, relating celular inhibition rate with tested concentration logarithm (p< 0,01).Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Citotoxic activity of crude extracts of Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown (Verbenaceae)

Extratos brutos da raiz, caule e folhas de Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown (Verbenaceae), foram testados frente às células NCI-H292 (obtidas de carcinoma mucoepidermoide de pulmão humano) e células HEp-2 (derivadas de carcinoma epidermóide de laringe). O extrato etanólico da folha mostrou-se mais citotóxico frente às células HEp-2 com CI50 igual 8,17 µg/mL. Para às células NCI-H292 observou-se que o extrato clorofórmico da raiz foi o mais citotóxico, com CI50 igual 4,64 µg/mL. Os constituintes com maiores ações antineoplásica estão presentes, principalmente, na raiz e folhas da espécie.Crude extracts of Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Brown (Verbenaceae) roots, stem and leaves, were tested against cells lines of the pulmonary mucoepidermoid human carcinoma (NCI-H292) and cells lines derived from an epidermoid carcinoma of the human larynx (HEp-2). Ethanolic extract of the leaves showed more citotoxicity against HEp-2 cells with CI50 = 8.17 µg/mL. In the case of NCI-H292 cells the chloroformic extract of the root was the most citotoxic, with CI50 = 4.64 µg/mL. The constituents with higher antineoplasic action are present mostly in the root and leaves of the studied species.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Citotoxic activity of crude extracts of Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown (Verbenaceae)

Extratos brutos da raiz, caule e folhas de Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown (Verbenaceae), foram testados frente às células NCI-H292 (obtidas de carcinoma mucoepidermoide de pulmão humano) e células HEp-2 (derivadas de carcinoma epidermóide de laringe). O extrato etanólico da folha mostrou-se mais citotóxico frente às células HEp-2 com CI50 igual 8,17 µg/mL. Para às células NCI-H292 observou-se que o extrato clorofórmico da raiz foi o mais citotóxico, com CI50 igual 4,64 µg/mL. Os constituintes com maiores ações antineoplásica estão presentes, principalmente, na raiz e folhas da espécie.Crude extracts of Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Brown (Verbenaceae) roots, stem and leaves, were tested against cells lines of the pulmonary mucoepidermoid human carcinoma (NCI-H292) and cells lines derived from an epidermoid carcinoma of the human larynx (HEp-2). Ethanolic extract of the leaves showed more citotoxicity against HEp-2 cells with CI50 = 8.17 µg/mL. In the case of NCI-H292 cells the chloroformic extract of the root was the most citotoxic, with CI50 = 4.64 µg/mL. The constituents with higher antineoplasic action are present mostly in the root and leaves of the studied species.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Evaluation of antitumoral activity of a fraction of water-soluble components of the edible mushroom pleurotus ostreato-roseus

Una fracción extraíble con agua fue obtenida del hongo comestible Pleuruotus ostreato-roseus y ensayada in vitro en cultivo de células NCI-H292 e in vivo contra el Sarcoma 180. No se verificaron efectos tóxicos en el cultivo celular. Se observó un aumento en la concentración de proteína indicando un posible efecto mitógeno. Los ratones tratados mostraron señales clínicas que indican toxicidad y tuvieron mortalidad antes que el grupo no tratado. Los ratones que recibieron la fracción tuvieron una reducción promedio de 41,96% en el crecimiento del tumor en comparación con los no tratados. Estos resultados califican la fracción estudiada como un fármaco potencial, señalando la necesidad de mayores investigaciones.A water-soluble fraction was obtained from the pink oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatoroseus and tested on NCI-H292 cell culture and in vivo Sarcoma 180. Non apparent toxic effect was observed in cell culture. However, an increase on cell protein content was observed in treated cells indicating a possible mitogenic effect. The group of treated mice showed clinical signals suggesting toxicity and have mortality started earlier than non treated group. However, in the treated mice was verified a 41.96% reduction on tumor. These results that suggest this water soluble fraction has a pharmacological potential in tumor therapy and point to the necessity of further researches.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Evaluation of antitumoral activity of a fraction of water-soluble components of the edible mushroom pleurotus ostreato-roseus

Una fracción extraíble con agua fue obtenida del hongo comestible Pleuruotus ostreato-roseus y ensayada in vitro en cultivo de células NCI-H292 e in vivo contra el Sarcoma 180. No se verificaron efectos tóxicos en el cultivo celular. Se observó un aumento en la concentración de proteína indicando un posible efecto mitógeno. Los ratones tratados mostraron señales clínicas que indican toxicidad y tuvieron mortalidad antes que el grupo no tratado. Los ratones que recibieron la fracción tuvieron una reducción promedio de 41,96% en el crecimiento del tumor en comparación con los no tratados. Estos resultados califican la fracción estudiada como un fármaco potencial, señalando la necesidad de mayores investigaciones.A water-soluble fraction was obtained from the pink oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatoroseus and tested on NCI-H292 cell culture and in vivo Sarcoma 180. Non apparent toxic effect was observed in cell culture. However, an increase on cell protein content was observed in treated cells indicating a possible mitogenic effect. The group of treated mice showed clinical signals suggesting toxicity and have mortality started earlier than non treated group. However, in the treated mice was verified a 41.96% reduction on tumor. These results that suggest this water soluble fraction has a pharmacological potential in tumor therapy and point to the necessity of further researches.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire