Detection of cytotoxic activity of Psacalium palladium on normal mouse spleen cells and transformed human cells.

A decoction from roots and rhizomes of Psacalium palladium is used in Mexico for the treatment of tumors and for control of diabetes mellitus, among other ailments. Although hypoglycemic activity has been demonstrated in various experimental models and some compounds have been detected in the roots and rhizomes, such as alkaloids, glycosides and tannins, toxicity studies have not yet been performed. Moreover, since various species taxonomically related to P. palladium have pyrrolizidine alkaloids (hepatotoxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic agents) it is possible that these species also contain potentially toxic substances, which represents a risk for users. The aim of this investigation was study the cytotoxicity of P. palladium on mouse hematopoietic cells and transformed human cells, evaluating the cell proliferation by the technique of sulforhodamine B. An aqueous fraction (AS) reduced population of both types of cells by over 50%; meanwhile the other extracts did not alter cell number. Fraction AP was cytotoxic for DU-145 cells at 10 microg/mL, whereas the remaining extracts acted like cytostatic agents.

Cytotoxic activity of Cuphea aequipetala.

Cuphea aequipetala (Lytraceae) is a perennial plant that has been used in Mexican traditional medicine to treat different types of tumors since prehispanic times. In the present work the cytotoxic potential of different fractions from acetone-water extract from the whole plant was investigated using a sulforhodamine B assay. Fractions were subjected to a bioscreening assay using several cell lines: HEp-2 (human larynx carcinoma), HCT-15 (human colon cancer) and DU-145 (human prostate carcinoma). Colchicine was used as positive control. Data are presented as the dose that inhibited 50.0% control growth (ED50). The cytotoxic activity is selective since the ED50 is different for the three cell lines employed. The highest activity was seen against the DU-145 cell line. "E" and PB1 fractions had the highest cytotoxic activities with ED50 values of 0.418 and 2.40 microg/ml respectively, on the DU-145 cell line. The "E" fraction was a yellow powder; it was methanol soluble and contained at least four separate components when separated by thin-layer chromatography. PB1 was a solid with metallic appearance; it was water soluble and its two dimensional chromatography showed 9 spots. These fractions have cytotoxic actives because their ED50 is less than 20 microg/ml and they will be further characterized.