Preliminary screening of Cuscuta reflexa stems for Anti inflammatory and cytotoxic activity

ABSTRACT

Objective: Evaluation of preliminary antiinflammatory and cytotoxic activities of a parasitic plant Cuscuta reflexa. Methods: Human red blood stabilizing activity was used for the evaluation of in vitro antiinflammatory activity and Brine shrimp lethality assay was used to assess the cytotoxic potential of extract of stems of Cuscuta reflexa. Results: Methanolic extract and Ethyl acetate fraction of methanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa (MECR & EAMECR resp.) were found to have significant antiinflammatory and cytotoxic activity with inhibitory concentration IC50%values 277.83 μg/ml & 214.94 μg/ml in HRBC stabitlity assay[table 01], and lethal concentration LC50% 257.73 μg/ml 184.86 μg/ml in BSLA respectively[table 02]. Conclusions: Amongst various extracts evaluated for cytotoxicity and antiinflammatory activities, methanolic extract of Cuscutareflexa (MECR) and its ethyl acetate soluble fraction (EAMECR) show significant cytotoxic as well as antiinflammatory activities which may be due to the presence of phenols, polyphenols and flavonoids.