ABSTRACT
Traditionally mistletoes Dendrophthoe pentandra (L.) Miq known in Indonesia is to cure cough, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, ulcers, smallpox, diuretic, skin infection and after child-birth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxic effects at short and long term the Dendrophthoe pentandra ethanol extract in mice. In the acute test, the limit test dose of 40 g/kg of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts were administered orally to mice and then observed individually 2 h post-dosing and at least once daily for 14 days. Sub-chronic toxicity was evaluated after a daily oral administration of 420 mg/kg in a suspension of 2 % PGA for 90 days to Wistar rats. Animals were sacrificed and their organs were examined. The results showed LD50 values for acute toxicity at a dose of 17.78 and 12.59 g/kg which was comparable to a dose of 12.45 g/kg and 8.81 g/kg in rats. From the subchronic, the values of the parameters of hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocytes, and erythrocytes index were still within the range of the reference. From histopathological examination value, the results revealed some abnormalities. Our results suggest the ethanol extract of Dendrophthoe pentandra have LD50 values which have practically not toxic but is not recommended to be used for a long periode.
ABSTRACT
Dendrophthoe pentandra known as mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant with traditional claims for some medicinal properties. This research was done to determine phytochemical constituents of Dendropthoe petandra (DP) leaves extract, to evaluate toxicity of extracts by brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT) and to confirm cytotoxicity activity of DPME against various normal cell lines. The most potent extract was then evaluated by GC-MS. DP leaves that have been extracted with petroleum ether (DPPEE), methanol (DPME) and water (DPWE) were screened for phytochemical constituents. BSLT was carried out to determine the lethality concentration that kills 50% of tested population (LC50). The cytotoxicity was assessed by Methylene Blue Assay (MBA) that evaluates the inhibition concentration for cell growth by 50% (IC50). The normal cell lines used were MDCK, L929 and Vero. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tannin and terpenoid in those extracts. Highest total phenolic content was found in DPME (471.63±2.02 mg GAE/g). BSLT have determined the lowest LC50 value is 2.74±1.23 ppm in DPME. No IC50 detected when MDCK, L929 and Vero cell line were treated with all extracts. Therefore, this can be concluded that DP extracts did not show any harmful effects towards MDCK, L929 and Vero cell lines although the DPME, DPPEE and DPWE are toxic towards brine shrimp. Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester and 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, methyl ester are among compounds present in DPME. Further studies using mammalian cancer cell lines should be conducted on DP extracts to know if they posses anticancer potential.
ABSTRACT
Mistletoes or benalu in bahasa Indonesia is a semi-parasitic plant that also known as medicinal plant. It used in traditional/alternative medicine such as for for cough, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, diuretic, smallpox, ulcer, skin infection and after child-birth treatment. There are many species of mistletoes in Indonesia. Dendrophthoe pentandra (L.) Miq. is one of the Indonesian mistletoes species that commonly found grew on many different species of host plant. In this paper we reported in vitro toxicity, antioxidant and antidiabetes activities of MeOH and water extracts of D. pentandra grew on four different host plants (Stelechocarpus burahol, Spondias dulcis, Annona squamosa and Camellia sinensis). Toxicity was measured using brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT). Antioxidant activity was measured using DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Antidiabetes activity was measured using -glucosidase inhibitor assay. The results show that all mistletoes extracts tested (MeOH and water extracts) were non-toxic and show significant antidiabetes activity, whereas for antioxidant activity, only MeOH extracts show significant activity. Therefore, it is suggest that D. pentandra extracts are potential source for natural antioxidant and antidiabetes compounds.