Preliminary antinociceptive, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Leucas aspera root

doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2006.06.018

Fitoterapia

Volume 78, Issues 7–8, December 2007, Pages 552-555

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2006.06.018 Get rights and content

Abstract

The ethanolic extract of Leucas aspera root was subjected to acetic acid induced writhing inhibition, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and brine shrimp lethality bioassay for screening of antinociceptive, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity, respectively. The extract produced significant writhing inhibition in acetic acid induced writhing in mice at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg. The extract showed a significant free radical scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ of 8 μg/ml. The extract showed significant lethality to brine shrimp with an LC₅₀ value.

Introduction

Leucas aspera is a common aromatic herb (Darkolos or Dandokolos in Bangladesh) of waste places grows in Dhaka, Comilla, Chittagong and Hill tracts [1]. Traditionally the decoction of the whole plant is taken orally for analgesic–antipyretic, antirheumatic, antiinflammatory and antibacterial treatment and its paste is applied topically to inflamed areas [2]. Glucosides, tannins, saponins, sterols, oleic, linoleic, palmitic, stearic, oleanolic and ursolic acids have been isolated from the leaves of this plant [3], [4], [5], [6]. Leaves are useful in chronic rheumatism, psoriasis, scabies, chronic skin eruptions and their juice is antibacterial. Chloroform and ether extracts possess antifungal activity [7]. Roots are specially used traditionally for different ailments of human being in different parts of Bangladesh and no scientific report on biological activity of this part of the plant has been reported. The present study was aimed to investigate the antinociceptive, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.

Section snippets

Plant

L. aspera Link (Labiatae), collected from Pabna district of Bangladesh in February, 2005 was identified by Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna. A specimen sample was preserved in the Phytochemistry Laboratory of Khulna University (No. PL-81).

Extraction

Roots dried and ground were macerated in 80% EtOH, filtered and evaporated to give the dried extract (yield 9.5%).

Preliminary phytochemical analysis

The extract was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening for the detection of major chemical groups [8].

Results and discussion

The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, reducing sugars, steroids and gums. In the acute toxicity test, the animal exhibited decreased mobility at the highest dose tested, 4000 mg/kg. No mortality was observed. In the acetic acid-induced writhing model in mice, the extract produced 48.42% and 73.68% inhibition at the doses of 250 and 500 mg per kg, respectively. Diclofenac sodium inhibited writhing by 75.26% at the dose of 25 mg/kg (Table 1). Acetic acid, which is

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to appreciate and express their thanks to Botanist Prof. Md. Abdul Matin of Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline for helping to identify this plant Authors also appreciate Shammi Akhter for her kind cooperation.

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This study was designed to investigate the antibacterial activity of selected medicinal plants used by the Genta Meyche community in Southern Ethiopia. Ethnomedicinal data was collected from 25 herbalists through semi-structured interviews and observations. Based on the highest use value (UV), plants were selected to be tested on pathogenic bacteria. A total of 26 ethnomedicinal plant species belonging to 17 families were collected and identified. The extraction of active compounds from the selected plants was carried out using five solvents. Roots (30.8 %) and leaves (26.9 %) were the plant parts most frequently used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders (GIDs). Herbalists mostly prepared medicinal plants as juice (57.7 %) and administered the juice through oral routes (92.3 %). Solanum incanum L. (UV = 0.44), Harrisonia abyssinica Oliv. (UV = 0.36), Hydnora abyssinia A.Br. (UV = 0.36) and Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link. (UV = 0.32) were found to be the most frequently used medicinal plants in the study area. These plants showed a promising broad spectrum of activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative test bacteria with growth inhibition zone and minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) values ranging from 7.40 ± 0.60 $-$ 16.81 ± 2.03 mm and 156 $-$ 2500 μg/mL, respectively. Among solvents, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed significantly greater antibacterial activity than aqueous, acetone and chloroform extracts. Steroids, tannins, saponin, flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids were identified as bioactive compounds in most of the tested plants. Unused parts of Solanum incanum L. and Harrisonia abyssinica Oliv. were investigated and results exhibited potential candidacy with inhibition zones of 7.1 $-$ 13.7 and 10.2 $-$ 15.3 mm, respectively. Overall, the results of this study provide evidence for the treatment of GIDs by using traditional medicinal plants used by the Genta Meyche community to act against pathogenic bacteria.
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Citation Excerpt :
The methanolic leaf extracts of C. dactylon showed a thrombolytic activity of 66.55% (Kamruzzaman et al., 2013). In the previous study (Rahman et al., 2007) reported that ethanol extract of L. aspera showed a thrombolytic activity of 39.30±0.96%. Thus the results of this study have showed a significant difference in the observed thrombolytic properties.
Herbal preparations have been used since ancient times for the treatment of several diseases and constitute a major share of all the officially recognized systems of health in India. The aim of the present study was to assess the in vitro thrombolytic activity of leaf extracts from Leucas aspera, Cynodon dactylon and Murraya koenigii in combination with clot buster enzymes (i.e., Nattokinase-NK and Staphylokinase-SaK). Methanolic leaf extract of L. aspera, C. dactylon and aqueous leaf extract of M. koenigii were prepared and assessed for their thrombolytic activity by clot lysis assay. The average clot lysis activity of L. aspera, C. dactylon and M. koenigii were found to be 45.32±0.53%, 38.56±0.42% and 30.32±0.25%. Combination of clot buster enzymes and leaf extracts showed an maximum clot lysis activity at the proportional ratio 1:1 of NK:L. aspera (47.61±0.35%), NK:C. dactylon (55.88±0.52%), SaK:L. aspera (59.04±0.54%) and SaK:C. dactylon (50.75±0.56%). GC–MS analysis of L. aspera, C. dactylon and M. koenigii extracts revealed the presence of thrombolytic compounds. This is the first report on combined thrombolytic activity of clot buster enzymes and selected herbal extracts. Hence this study demonstrates the combinational properties of the herbal extracts and clot buster enzymes which could be one of the best sources of herbal drugs for thrombotic disorders with minimal side effects. Advances in this research could lead to the development of new combination of thrombolytics.
Antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of the phytochemicals of whole Leucas aspera extract
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To investigate the antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of whole Leucas aspera (Labiatae) (L. aspera) alcoholic extract.
Whole L. aspera powder was extracted by absolute ethanol (99.50%). The ethanolic extract was subjected to antioxidant, antibacterial and brine shrimp lethality assay.
The extract showed potent radical scavenging effect (antioxidant) with IC₅₀ value of (99.58±1.22) μg/mL which was significant (P<0.01) in comparison to ascorbic acid with IC₅₀ value of (1.25±0.95) μg/mL. In case of antibacterial screening, the extract showed notable antibacterial effect against the tested microbial strains. Significant (P<0.05) zone of inhibitions against Gram positive Bacillus subtilis [(12.00±1.32) mm] and Bacillus megaterium [(13.00±1.50) mm], Staphylococcus aureus [(8.00±0.50) mm] and Gram negative Salmonella typhi [(6.00±0.50) mm], Salmonella paratyphi [(8.00±1.00) mm], Shigella dysenteriae [(9.00±1.32) mm] and Vibrio cholerae [(9.00±0.66) mm] was observed. In brine shrimp lethality bioassay, the extract showed the LC₅₀ value as (181.68±2.15) μg/mL which was statistically significant (P<0.01) compared to positive control vincristine sulfate [LC₅₀=(0.76±0.04) μg/mL].
The results demonstrate that the ethanolic extract of L. aspera could be used as antibacterial, pesticidal and various pharmacologic actives.
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The present finding suggests that the methanol root extract of L. aspera could be developed as pharmaceutical products.
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Preliminary antinociceptive, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Leucas aspera root

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Plant

Extraction

Preliminary phytochemical analysis

Results and discussion

Acknowledgements

J Ethnopharmacol

Medicinal plants of Bangladesh

Medicinal plants of Bangladesh

J Inst Chem (India)

J Essent Oil Res

Sci Res

J. Oil Technol. Assoc. India