In Vitro And In Vivo Anticancer Efficacy Of Adiantum Capillus-Veneris L. Against Some Selected Human Cancer Cell Lines And On Eac Mouse Model

Adiantum capillus-veneris, commonly known as maidenhair fern belongs to family Pteridaceae, has traditionally been used in various medicinal preparations as demulcent, expectorant, emmenagogue, diuretic etc. in the form of oil, paste, decoction and powder. It has also prominent role in hair growing and has anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-nociceptive and antioxidant properties of therapeutic interest. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro cytotoxic activity of fractions of ethanolic extract isolated from the aerial part of A. capillus-veneris against some human cancer cell lines such as colon (HCT-116), lung (A549), breast (MCF-7) and pancreatic (MIA PaCa-2) and tumor cell proliferation/inhibition was assessed using MTT assay. The in vivo anticancer activity of hexane fraction was also evaluated against murine Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) model. The results confirmed that all the fractions of ethanolic extract exhibited promising in vitro inhibition of tumor cell proliferation when tested against different human cancer cell lines. Among all, hexane fraction proved to be more effective having IC50 values 21.72, 22.67, 26.25 μg/mL, for HCT- 116, A-549, MCF-7, respectively, but chloroform fraction revealed to be more cytotoxic against Mia-PACA-2 having IC50 value 14.72 μg/mL. Higher cytotoxic activity is found to be associated with lower IC50 values. The findings showed that all five fractions exhibited dose-dependent killing capabilities in various human derived cancer cell lines at 48 h of treatment. Hexane fraction was found to inhibit tumour growth development by 16.95%, 41.12% and 82.07% at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Additionally, this fraction was predicted to be non-toxic at the tested doses. The findings indicate that A. capillus-veneris herb is an antineoplastic agent and suggest that further studies evaluating the isolation of active antitumor compounds from A. capillus-veneris and their mechanism(s) of action are necessary.

Effect of ethanol Adiantum capillus-veneris extract in experimental models of anxiety and depression

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders with a prevalence of 15%-25%. Monoamine aminotransferases, in particular, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, change in the brain of depressed people. Adiantum capillus-veneris is one of the species of the maidenhair fern genus that have traditionally been used to treat cough, cold symptoms, and local hair loss.In this experimental study, white male rats weighing 250-300 g were assigned to 5 groups of 10 each; group 1: Receiving normal saline; groups 2-4: Receiving A.capillus-veneris extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, respectively; and group 5: Receiving fluoxetine at 10 mg/kg. Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) was induced by 3-week exposure to chronic stress. The forced swim test and plus maze were used to assess depression and anxiety, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and antioxidant capacity in the serum and brain were measured. Treatment with A.capillus-veneris extract at 200 mg/kg significantly reduced the duration of immobility. In the group given extract at 200 mg/kg, a significant increase in the number of open arm entries was observed when compared to the control group. A.capillus-veneris extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg resulted in a significant increase in the time spent in the open arm. A.capillus-veneris extract reduced MDA levels and increased antioxidant levels of serum and brain in rat. A.capillus-veneris has significant antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects in rat, probably due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Eliciadores proteicos e glicídicos de Adiantum capillus-veneris L. para fitoalexinas em sorgo Sorghum bicolor (L. ) Moench / Proteinaceous and carbohydrate elicitors from Adiantum capillus-veneris inducing phytoalexins in sorghum

Este trabalho objetivou a purificação parcial, por precipitação com sulfato de amônio (SA) e cromatografia de filtração em gel (CFG), de compostos presentes no decocto de Adiantum capillus-veneris (avenca) eficientes na indução de fitoalexinas em mesocótilos de Sorghum bicolor sorgo. Decocto de A. capillus-veneris a 1% (peso seco/volume) foi precipitado com concentrações de SA variando de 0 a 100% (em intervalos de 20%), e essas frações foram submetidas à CFG. Para o decocto não precipitado foram obtidos nove picos proteicos e um pico glicídico com massas moleculares variando de 0,61 à 0,01 KDa. Para a precipitação fracionada obteve-se: na fração 0-20% dois picos proteicos (menores que 0,01 KDa) e dois glicídicos com concentração de açúcares variando de 4,1 a 17,5 µg mL-1; na fração 20-40% três picos proteicos (111,5 à 0,98 KDa) e cinco glicídicos (11,3 a 73,7 µg de açúcares mL-1); na fração 40-60% dois picos proteicos (111,5 à 0,09 KDa) e dois glicídicos (5,6 a 7, 5 µg de açúcares mL-1); na fração 60-80% seis picos proteicos (menores que 0,02 KDa) e dois glicídicos (16,5 a 51,3 µg de açúcares mL-1); e na fração 80-100% três picos proteicos (menores que 0,09 KDa). Mesocótilos de sorgo foram tratados com as frações provenientes da CFG, além do decocto a 1%, acibenzolar-S-metil (ASM) (125 mg L-1 do i.a. como eliciador de referência) e tampão fosfato de sódio 10 mM pH 6,0. O pico proteico II (0,09 KDa) do decocto não precipitado induziu fitoalexinas, 6,68% superior a ASM. Entre os precipitados, a fração 60-80% de SA induziu 76% mais que ASM. Dessa forma, pôde-se obter frações proteicas e/ou glicídicas indutoras de fitoalexinas em sorgo de maneira superior ao extrato (decocto) do qual é originária, indicando o potencial dessas moléculas para trabalhos futuros sobre indução de resistência.

This study aimed to partially purify the compounds present in decoction of Adiantum capillus-veneris, which are efficient in the induction of phytoalexins in sorghum mesocotyl, by ammonium sulphate (AS) fractionation and gel filtration chromatography (GFC). The decoction of A. capillus-veneris at 1% (weight/volume) was precipitated with AS at the concentration of 0-20%, 20-40%, 40-60%, 60-80% and 80-100%, and these fractions were subjected to GFC. For the decoction not precipitated with AS, nine protein peaks and one carbohydrate peak were obtained with molecular weights ranging from 0.61 to 0.01 KDa. For the AS precipitation, we obtained: for the fraction 0-20%, two protein peaks (0.01 KDa) and two carbohydrate peaks with concentration of sugars ranging from 4.1 to 17.5 µg of sugar mL-1; for the 20-40%, three protein peaks (0.98 to 111.5 KDa) and five carbohydrate peaks (11.3 to 73.7 µg sugar mL-1); for the 40-60%, two protein peaks (0.09 to 111.5 KDa) and two carbohydrate peaks (5.6 to 7.5 µg of sugar mL-1); for the 60-80%, six protein peaks (lower than 0.02 KDa) and two carbohydrate peaks (16.5 to 51.3 µg of sugar mL-1); and for the 80-100%, three protein peaks with molecular weight equivalent to 0.09 KDa. The sorghum mesocotyls were treated with GFC fractions, decoction (1%), acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) (125 mg L-1 a.i. as elicitor reference) and sodium phosphate buffer (10 mM, pH 6.0). The protein peak II (0.09 KDa) from the decoction not precipitated was effective in inducing phytoalexin, exceeding in 6.68% the ASM. Among the fractions, the one with 60-80% of AS increased in 76% the induction of phytoalexin compared to ASM. According to the results, we could obtain protein and/or carbohydrate fractions capable of inducing phytoalexins in sorghum better than the decoction from which they are derived from, showing the potential of these molecules for future research studies on the induction of resistance.

Protective Effect of Adiantum Capillus Against Chemically Induced Oxidative Stress by Cisplatin.

Damage to cells caused by free radicals has been implicated in the disease progression of at least 50 diseases that is cancer, cardiovascular disease, renal dysfunction and other. So many factors contribute to oxidative stress. Hence, the present study was designed to investigate the potential nephroprotective activity of 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg. Ethanolic extract of Adiantum capillus-veneris dried fronds against Cisplatin induced oxidative stress caused in male Wistar rats. Acute nephrotoxicity was induced by i.p. injection of Cisplatin (7 mg/kg of body weight (b.w.)). Administration of ethanol extract at dose level of 500 and 250 mg/kg (b.w.) to Cisplatin-intoxicated rats (toxic control) for 14 days attenuated the biochemical and histological signs of nephrotoxicity of Cisplatin in dose-dependent fashion. Ethanol extract at 500 mg/kg decreased the serum level of creatinine and urea as compared to the toxic control group. The ethanol extract of Adiantum capillus-veneris at 500 mg/kg (b.w.) exhibited significant and comparable nephroprotective potential. The statistically (one-way-ANOVA followed by Dunnet’s test) processed results suggested the positive action of Adiantum capillus-veneris Cisplatin-induced nephropathy.