The evaluation of selected ghanaian medicinal plants for cytotoxic activites

Abstract

Cancer is still responsible for many deaths worldwide. Therefore, the need for an effective management, treatment and cure of cancer is undoubtedly crucial. In Ghana, several plants or herbal products are used by traditional healers for the management and/or the treatment of various cancers. However, the efficacies of these plant products as anticancer agents are often ill defined. In this study, the methanolic extracts of ten plant species were evaluated for cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines, DLD-1, MCF-7 and M14, using the MTT assay. Extracts of Adenia lobata root, Clerodendrum capitatum leaves, Garcinia kola stem bark, Plumbago zeylanica leaves and Vernonia conferta root, showed relatively low cytotoxic activities while extracts of Ficus asperifolia leaves, Paullinia pinnata root and Thonningia sanguinea root exhibited moderate activity (IC 50 values 40-55µg/ml against at least one of the three cell lines). Croton membranaceus root extract exhibited markedly higher cytotoxic activities, particularly against the DLD-1 and MCF-7 cells (IC 50 = 16.0 and 17.4µg/ml respectively), while Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides bark extract was 2-3 fold more active against DLD-1 cells (IC 50 = 16µg/ml), than against the other cell lines. These results lend some support for the use of these species in traditional medicines for the treatment of cancer, especially for C. membranaceus and Z. xanthoxyloides. cial. Plants are an obvious source of diverse compounds which may serve as drugs or lead compounds for the development of more effective anticancer agents. In Ghana, several plants or herbal products are used by herbalists and traditional healers for the management and/or treatment of various cancers (Mshana et al., 2000),

Anticancer and Antimicrobial Activities of Some Antioxidant-Rich Cameroonian Medicinal Plants

“…Our results agree with the literature data regarding Vismia laurentii [16], Psorospermum febrifugum [25]–[27] and Ficus asperifolia [8] anticancer potential, and we additionally identify the Pentadesma butyracea extract as a good antiproliferative agent, after an earlier report on its antimalarial activity [11]. We identify here two new targets: ovary cancer and skin malignancies, in which the prodrug potential of the natural substances can be used as a new therapeutic approach.…”

“…The leaves extracts exhibit a moderate cytotoxic effect against breast cancer and malignant melanoma cell lines [8], enhance the normal human fibroblast growth and protect the normal cells against oxidative damage [9], thus conferring a good potential for selectivity for this plant extract.…”

A mutagenicity and cytotoxicity study on Limonium effusum aqueous extracts by Allium, Ames and MTT tests

“…The study was carried out with three test systems; bacterial test (Ames test), plant test (Allium test) and mammalian cell test (MTT test). Mutagenicity and cytotoxicity studies were previously achieved by these methods [18][19][20][21][22][23].…”

Anti-atherogenic and anti-ischemic potentials of Croton membranaceus observed during sub-chronic toxicity studies

“…[2] Phytochemical investigations into the ethyl acetate fraction of the root extract led to the isolation of a new furano-clerodane diterpeniod, crotomembranafuran in addition to known glutarimide alkaloid, julocrotine; beta-sitosterol; beta- sitosterol-3-D-glucoside; labdane diterpioid, gomojoside H, and DL-thrietol. [4] Furthermore, marked cytotoxic activity of crotomembranafuran, beta-sitosterol-3-D-glucoside, and DL-thrietol against human prostate (PC-3) cells has been reported. [5]…”

“…[6] On the contrary, the toxicity of medicinal plants has been known to man since their therapeutic effects became known. Although cytotoxic evaluations of some selected Ghanaian medicinal plants including C. membranaceus lend credence to their use in traditional medicines for the treatment of cancer,[4] extensive toxicological studies have not been documented on C. membranaceus to confirm its safety, neither has its anti-atherogenic potential being reported. Furthermore, toxicological data on extracts of medicinal plants are currently required as part of the evaluation process of these plants in many countries to ensure safety before marketing.…”