Cytotoxic activity of ethanolic extracts of Lippia graveolens HBK leaves and stem against lung cancer cell line SK-LU-1 / Actividad citotóxica de extractos etanólicos de hoja y tallos de Lippia graveolens HBK contra la línea celular de cáncer de pulmón SK-LU-1

Lippia graveolens HBK (Verbenaceae) is an aromatic herb of economic importance in Mexico, known as oregano. The leaves are used as condiments, and people use this species for respiratory and digestive disorders. The aim of this work was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of ethanolic extracts obtained from free-oil leaves (L9) and stem (S15), against lung cancer cell line SK-LU-1, through tetrazolium salt (MTT) assay. Extracts concentrations of 0.3 to 300 µg/mL were used and HFF-1 as normal control cells. Both L9 and S15 extracts, showed cytotoxic effect, although stem was stronger than leaves and without damage to normal cell control. The phenolic compounds caffeic acid and acacetin werein higher concentration in L9, whereas naringenin, taxifolin, eriodictyol, luteolin, and apigenin had higher concentrations in S15. The ethanolic extracts of L. graveolens have excellent cytotoxic activity, and have a wide possibility of use in lung cancer treatment.

Lippia graveolens HBK. (Verbenaceae) es una hierba aromática de importancia económica en México, conocida como orégano. Las hojas se usan como condimento y en medicina tradicional se utiliza para aliviar malestares respiratorios y digestivos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto citotóxico de extractos etanólicos obtenidos de hojas sin aceite (L9) y tallo (S15), sobre la línea celular de cáncer de pulmón SK-LU-1, mediante el ensayo de la sal de tetrazolium (MTT). Los extractos se aplicaron a concentraciones de 0,3 a 300 µg/mL y se utilizaron células HFF-1 como control normal. Tanto los extractos L9 como S15 mostraron efecto citotóxico, aunque el efecto del tallo fue mayor al de las hojas y sin daño al control celular normal. Los compuestos fenólicos ácido cafeico y acacetina se encontraron en mayor concentración en L9, mientras que naringenina, taxifolina, eriodictyol, luteolina y apigenina tuvieron mayor concentración en S15. Los extractos etanólicos de L. graveolens tienen una excelente actividad citotóxica, con amplia posibilidad de utilizar en el tratamiento de cáncer de pulmón.

In vitro and in vivo antifungal activity, liver profile test, and mutagenic activity of five plants used in traditional Mexican medicine

Berberis hartwegii Benth., Berberidaceae, Hamelia patens Jacq., Rubiaceae, Dendropanax arboreus (L.) Decne & Planch., Araliaceae, Erythrina herbacea L., Fabaceae, and Zanthoxylum caribaeum Lam., Rutaceae, acetone extracts were selected on the basis of their use in traditional Mexican medicine to treat scabies or skin diseases. Anti-dermatophyte activity in vitro was evaluated using the agar dilution assay, and the therapeutic efficacy of B. hartwegii and Z. caribaeum were tested against experimental tinea pedis. The infected animals were treated intragastrically daily for seven days with 2.5 and 5 mg/kg of acetone extracts. The acetone extract of H. patens exhibited 100% growth inhibition against T. mentagrophytes and E. floccosum at 100.0 and 50.0 µg/ml, respectively, and B. hartwegii inhibited growth of M. canis and T. mentagrophytes at 100.0 µg/ml. Effective treatments with 2.5 mg/kg of Z. caribaeum and B. hartwegii extract were comparable with 1 mg/kg of clotrimazole in mice. Liver profile tests and histological analyses did not exhibit any signs of toxicity and the Ames test indicated that both extracts were safe when evaluated in strains TA98, TA100 and TA102. Our results suggest the potential for the future development of new antifungal drugs from B. hartwegii or Z. caribaeum.