Abstract: |
The cytotoxicity of three extracts (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol) from a plant used in folk medicine, Marchantia convoluta, to human non-small cell lung carcinoma (H1299) and liver carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines was tested. After 72-h incubation of lung and liver cancer cell cultures with varying concentrations of extracts (15 to 200 μg/mL), cytotoxicity was determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and reported in terms of cell viability. The extracts that showed a significant cytotoxicity were subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis to identify the components. The ethyl acetate, but not the petroleum ether or n-butanol extract, had a significant cytotoxicity against lung and liver carcinoma cells with IC 50 values of 100 and 30 μg/mL, respectively. A high concentration of ethyl acetate extract (100 μg/mL) rapidly reduced the number of H1299 cells. At lower concentrations of ethyl acetate extract (15, 30, and 40 μg/mL), the numbers of HepG2 cells started to decrease markedly. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the ethyl acetate extract revealed the presence of several compounds such as phytol (23.42%), 1,2,4-tripropylbenzene (13.09%), 9-cedranone (12.75%), ledene oxide (7.22%), caryophyllene (1.82%), and caryophyllene oxide (1.15%). HPLC analysis result showed that there were no flavonoids in ethyl acetate extract, but flavonoids are abundant in n-butanol extract. Further studies are needed regarding the identification, toxicity, and mechanism of action of active compounds. © 2006 Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research. |
Keywords: |
controlled study; unclassified drug; human cell; liver neoplasms; mass spectrometry; cell viability; cell survival; lung neoplasms; antineoplastic agents, phytogenic; cancer cell culture; cytotoxicity; drug screening assays, antitumor; tumor cells, cultured; cell assay; liver carcinoma; lung carcinoma; cell count; flavonoid; plant extract; plant extracts; traditional medicine; plant leaf; high performance liquid chromatography; chromatography, high pressure liquid; ic 50; inhibitory concentration 50; concentration response; benzene derivative; cell strain hepg2; gas chromatography; 3 (4,5 dimethyl 2 thiazolyl) 2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide; cytotoxicity assay; chemical composition; incubation time; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; acetic acid ethyl ester; marchantia convoluta extract; convoluta; marchantia; plant leaves; petroleum ether; caryophyllene oxide; hepg2 and h1299 carcinoma cell lines; phytol; butanol; caryophyllene; solvent extraction
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