Chromolaena odorata: A neglected weed with a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities (Review)

Chromolaena odorata layered-nitrile rubber polymer transdermal patch enhanced wound healing in vivo

The objective is to investigate the healing efficacy of a Chromolaena odorata layered-nitrile rubber transdermal patch on excision wound healing in rats. Wounds were induced in Sprague-Dawley rats and were later treated as follows: wound A, the negative control, received no treatment (NC); wound B, the negative control with an empty nitrile rubber patch (NC-ERP); wound C, treated with a C. odorata layered-nitrile rubber patch (CO-NRP); and wound D, the positive control with Solcoseryl gel with a nitrile rubber patch (PC-SG-NRP). After 1, 3, 6, 10, and 14 days, the rats were sacrificed and analyzed for wound contraction, protein content, hexosamine, and uronic acid levels. Macroscopic observation showed enhanced wound healing in wounds treated with CO-NRP with a wound contraction percentage significantly higher (p<0.05) on days 6 and 10 compared to those treated with NC-ERP. Similarly, protein, hexosamine, and uronic acid contents were also significantly higher (p<0.05) in CO-NRP-treated wounds when compared with wounds treated with NC-ERP. Histological findings showed denser collagen deposition and faster granulation tissue formation in wounds treated with CO-NRP. From the results obtained, it is concluded that the C. odorata layered-nitrile rubber transdermal patch was effective in healing skin wounds.

Predicting Plasmodium falciparum kinase inhibitors from antimalarial medicinal herbs using computational modeling approach

Malaria remains a significant public health challenge, with resistance to available drugs necessitating the development of novel therapies targeting invasion-dependent proteins. Plasmodium falciparum calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 (PfCDPK-1) is essential for host erythrocyte invasion and parasite asexual development. This study screened a library of 490 compounds using computational methods to identify potential PfCDPK-1 inhibitors. Three compounds; 17-hydroxyazadiradione, Picracin, and Epicatechin-gallate derived from known antimalarial botanicals, showed potent inhibitory effects on PfCDPK-1. These compounds exhibited better binding affinities (-8.8, -9.1, -9.3 kCal/mol respectively), pharmacokinetics, and physicochemical properties than the purported inhibitory standard of PfCDPK-1, Purfalcamine. Molecular dynamics simulations (50 ns) and molecular mechanics analyses confirmed the stability and binding rigidity of these compounds at the active pocket of PfCDPK-1. The results suggest that these compounds are promising pharmacological targets with potential therapeutic effects for malaria treatment/management without undesirable side effects. Therefore, this study provides new insights into the development of effective antimalarial agents targeting invasion-dependent proteins, which could help combat the global malaria burden.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-023-00175-z.

Chromolaena odorata Linn leaf extract - Geothermal versus nongeothermal: Phytochemical, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity screenings

Chromolaena odorata Linn, a popular yet underutilized ethnomedicinal plant, is hypothesized to possess higher bioactive phytoconstituents when it grows in geothermal areas. In this study, the comparison of ethanolic extract from geothermal and nongeothermal C. odorata leaves was carried out based on the phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity. The leaf extracts were produced from a maceration using ethanol 96%, where the products were identified using reagents and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antioxidant activities of both samples were measured based on their 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activities. Cytotoxicity was determined by brine shrimp lethality test using Artemia salina. Phenols were found to be more abundant in geothermal sample based on the qualitative screening and GC-MS analysis (i.e. higher relative abundance of phytol - 3.97%). DPPH antioxidant was higher in geothermal sample than in nongeothermal sample (median inhibitory concentration =13.04 ± 3.35 mg/L vs. 41.09 ± 4.13 mg/L, respectively). Geothermal sample was noncytotoxic (median lethal concentration [LC50] =2139.30 mg/L), whereas the nongeothermal sample had low cytotoxicity (LC50 = 491.48 mg/L). Taken altogether, geothermal C. odorata leaves contain higher bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant activities.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Fibroblast Migration Activities of Fractions Eluded from Dichloromethane Leaf Extract of Marantodes pumilum

(1) The complexity of diabetes and diabetic wound healing remains a therapeutic challenge because proper and systematic wound care and management are essential to prevent chronic microbial infection and mechanical damage to the skin. Marantodes pumilum, locally known as 'Kacip Fatimah', is an herb that has been previously reported to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antinociceptive and antipyretic properties. The current study aims to assess the antioxidant and fibroblast cell migration activities of the fractions eluded from the dichloromethane extract of M. pumilum leaves. (2) The total antioxidant capacity of M. pumilum was assessed using the total proanthocyanidins and phosphomolybdenum assays, while DPPH, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide free radical scavenging assays were tested to determine the antioxidant potential of M. pumilum. An in vitro scratch wound assay was performed to measure the fibroblast cell migration rate using normal and insulin-resistant human dermal fibroblast cells. (3) All M. pumilum fractions exhibited good antioxidant and fibroblast cell migration activity, among which fractions A and E displayed the greatest effect. (4) M. pumilum's fibroblast migration activity could be attributed to its strong antioxidant properties along with its previously reported properties.

Oxidative stability and compositional characteristics of oil from microwave irradiated black cumin seed under accelerated oxidation condition

The present work evaluated the impact of microwave pre-treatment on the storage stability, fatty acids and triacylglycerol contents in black cumin seed oil (BCO) during storage at 62 ºC. During storage, the oxidative indicator values (free acidity, peroxide value, p-anisidine value, TOTOX, specific extinctions and thiobarbituric acid) for the oils increased faster in untreated oil samples than in the microwaved samples. The degradation rate of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and triacylglycerol species (LLL and OLL) during storage were higher in untreated samples compared to treated ones, indicating that oxidation proceeded more slowly in the treated samples. During storage, the generation of hydroperoxides, their degradation and the formation of secondary oxidation products as investigated by FTIR, were lower in the treated oils. In conclusion, microwave pre-treatment prior to oil extraction reduced the oxidative degradation of oil samples, thereby increasing the storage stability of BCO.

Diversity of medicinal plants and their therapeutic usages of Kachin people (Jinghpaw) in the central part of Kachin State, Myanmar

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The traditional medical system plays a major role in healthcare in Kachin State, Myanmar, where long-term political instability persists and conventional healthcare facilities are inadequate. A knowledge of the traditional medicinal plants therefore benefits the Kachin people, yet documentation and records of the uses of these plants are rare. In this study, we attempt to answer the questions on what medicinal plants and how they are used by the Kachin people.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We aimed to document knowledge of the traditional medicinal plants and to identify those most frequently used by the Kachin people.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-two informants from eight villages in three townships were interviewed, and their knowledge of medicinal plants was recorded. The reported ailments were classified to the standard categories of the International Classification of Primary Care-2 (ICPC-2) system. Use reports (UR) were employed to evaluate the knowledge consensus of the informants.

RESULTS

We recorded a total of 117 species used as medicinal plants, of which 22 are newly recorded medicinal plant species for Myanmar. The plants belonged to 103 genera in 52 families, and were used to treat a total of 72 ailments from 17 ICPC-2 disease categories. Fabaceae and Lamiaceae were the most highly represented families of medicinal plants, with eleven and eight species used, respectively. The most cited species based on URs were Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. & Thomson (URs = 39), Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz (URs = 28), Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. (URs = 26), Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. (URs = 24), and Chloranthus elatior Link. (URs = 22). Digestive system disorder was the most prevalent disease category, and was treated with 47 different medicinal plants (URs = 142). Leaves were the most commonly used plant part; decoction was the dominant method of preparation; and oral consumption was the most frequent method of administration.

CONCLUSION

Our study documented a list of 117 medicinal plants and their uses in traditional medicine based on the local knowledge of the Kachin people. The study also identified the five most frequently cited species and found that the plants investigated are used to treat a total of 72 diseases. The 642 therapeutic reports we collected showcase a rich and diverse living knowledge of medicinal plant use by the Kachin people. Moreover, we present 22 new medicinal records, enriching the list of known medicinal plants in Myanmar. This exploratory study has enabled us to assemble the local knowledge of the Kachin people into solid dataset that will allow further scientific validation and will potentially contribute to better integration of medicinal plants into the healthcare provision for Kachin people in Myanmar.

Pollution impact assessment of secondary iron smelting on soil and some medicinal herbs grown at Fasina community in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Use of medicinal herbs is now gaining popularity especially among the low-income people because it is cheap, readily available and its "seeming" lack of side effects. However, environmental pollution is a potential threat to its continued use. This study examines the effect of air pollution on the soil and consequently on the medicinal herbs grown on such soils. Soil and four medicinal herbs, Chromolaena odorata, Vernonia amygdalina, Carica papaya and Ocimum gratissimum, commonly used in the south western part of Nigeria either as purely medicinal herbs, soup vegetables or both were carefully harvested from Fasina, a polluted area, and Moro, a relatively unpolluted area, all in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Samples were prepared following standard practice and analysed for nickel, chromium, cadmium and lead using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The results showed that elemental concentrations at the two locations were within the permissible limit for both soil and herbs, the statistical test also established no significant difference between the two locations. However, toxic metals concentrations (chromium, cadmium and lead) were found higher at the polluted site while that of the essential metal, nickel, was higher at the unpolluted site. Of the four metals, cadmium has the highest transfer ratio (0.39 and 0.34) while lead has the least (0.21 and 0.25) for Moro and Fasina sites respectively. Similarly, Chromolaena odorata has the highest transfer ratio (0.34) while Carica papaya has the least (0.28). In conclusion, gradual build-up of the toxic metals at the polluted site is evident and may eventually contaminate the herbs.

The differentiation of mesenchymal bone marrow stem cells into nerve cells induced by Chromolaena odorata extracts

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into nerve cells with an induction from chemical compounds in medium culture. Chromolaena odorata contains active compounds, such as alkaloids and flavonoids, that can initiate the transformation of MSCs into nerve cells. The aim of this study was to determine the potential of methanol extracted C. odorata leaf to induce the differentiation of bone marrow MSCs into nerve cells.

Methods: A serial concentration of C. odorata leaf extract (0.7–1.0 mg/mL) with two replications was used. The parameters measured were the number of differentiated MSCs into nerve cells (statistically analyzed using ANOVA) and cell confirmation using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results: The results showed that the C. odorata extract had a significant effect on the number MSCs differentiating into nerve cells ( p < 0.05) on the doses of 0.8 mg/ml with 22.6%. Molecular assay with RT-PCR confirmed the presence of the nerve cell gene in all of the samples.

Conclusions: In conclusion, this study showed the potential application of C. odorata leaf extract in stem cell therapy for patients experiencing neurodegeneration by inducing the differentiation of MSCs into nerve cells.

Ethnobotanical Documentation of Medicinal Plants Used by the Indigenous Panay Bukidnon in Lambunao, Iloilo, Philippines

The Panay Bukidnon is a group of indigenous peoples living in the interior highlands of Panay Island in Western Visayas, Philippines. Little is known about their ethnobotanical knowledge due to limited written records, and no recent research has been conducted on the medicinal plants they used in ethnomedicine. This study aims to document the medicinal plants used by the indigenous Panay Bukidnon in Lambunao, Iloilo, Panay Island. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 75 key informants from June 2020 to September 2021 to determine the therapeutic use of medicinal plants in traditional medicine. A total of 131 medicinal plant species distributed in 121 genera and 57 families were used to address 91 diseases in 16 different uses or disease categories. The family Fabaceae was best represented with 13 species, followed by Lamiaceae with nine species and Poaceae with eight species. The leaf was the most frequently used plant part and decoction was the most preferred form of preparation. To evaluate the plant importance, use value (UV), relative frequency citation (RFC), relative important index (RI), informant consensus factor (ICF), and fidelity level (FL) were used. Curcuma longa L. had the highest UV (0.79), Artemisia vulgaris L. had the highest RFC value (0.57), and Annona muricata L. had the highest RI value (0.88). Diseases and symptoms or signs involving the respiratory system and injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes recorded the highest ICF value (0.80). Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. and Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob were the most relevant and agreed species for the former and latter disease categories, respectively. C. odorata had the highest FL value (100%) and was the most preferred medicinal plant used for cuts and wounds. The results of this study serve as a medium for preserving cultural heritage, ethnopharmacological bases for further drug research and discovery, and preserving biological diversity.

Anti-dermatophyte activity of the aqueous extracts of Thai medicinal plants

Medicinal plants have long been prescribed in Thailand for centuries. Different constituents of extracts have been used for treating of various infectious diseases. However, there is even less information available regarding the use in fungal skin infection. In order to assess traditional Thai claims about the therapeutic potential, this study is focused on exploring the anti-dermatophyte property of the plants that are currently used as traditional medicines. The potential of four different plant species were selected for investigate in vitro anti-dermatophyte activity. Ethanolic extracts of Chromolaena odorata (L.), Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.), Eclipta prostrate (Linn.), and Acorus calamus (L.). were analysed for their total phenolic content as well as total flavonoid content and were then subjected to test of their anti-dermatophyte properties using agar well diffusion method. Qualitative flavonoids and phenolics analysis of the extracts showed their biologically active constituents. Among the species examined, the result indicated that most of the extracts demonstrated anti-dermatophyte activity. In particular, A. calamus showed the highest efficacy against test organisms. The experiment confirmed the chemical constituents and efficacy of some selected plants and provides a scientific confirmation of the use of Thai plants in traditional medicine for fungal skin infections.

Natural extracts as potential control agents for Nosema ceranae infection in honeybees, Apis mellifera

Nosema disease is one factor that can cause colony decline in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) worldwide. Nosema ceranae has outcompeted Nosema apis in the Western honeybee (A. mellifera) which is its original host. Fumagilin is an effective antibiotic treatment to control Nosema infection but currently it is forbidden in many countries. In this study, 12 plant extracts were evaluated for their toxicity to adult bees and antimicrosporidian activity under laboratory and field conditions. N. ceranae-infected adult bees were fed ad libitum with 50% sucrose solution containing 1% and 5% (w/v) of each plant extract. Bee mortality in N. ceranae-infected groups fed with plant extracts was higher than that in the control group treated with fumagilin. The results demonstrated that 9 of 12 extracts had high antimicrosporidian activity against N. ceranae and their efficacies were comparable to fumagilin. Spore reduction in infected bees was 4-6 fold less after extract treatment. Following laboratory screening, Annona squamosa, Ocimum basilicum, Psidium guajava and Syzygium jambos were tested in honeybee colonies. Plant extracts of 2% concentration (w/v) inhibited the development of Nosema spores after 30 days of treatment. At the end of experiment (90 days), spores in the plant extract treated groups were lower than in group treated with fumagilin but there was no significant difference. Although, extracts tested in this study showed high toxicity to bee in laboratory cages, they did not show negative affects on bees under whole colony conditions. Therefore, the effectiveness of plant extracts tested in this study was notable and warrants further study as potential Nosema control agents in honey bees. Plant extracts would offer a non-antibiotic alternative for Nosema control and help reduce the overuse of antibiotics in livestock.

5,6,7,4'-Tetramethoxyflavanone attenuates NADPH oxidase 1/4 and promotes sirtuin-1 to inhibit cell stress, senescence and apoptosis in Aß25-35-mediated SK-N-SH dysfunction

Amyloidogenesis is a fundamental step of amyloid beta (Aβ) generation-induced toxicity that is commonly reported to disrupt neuronal circuits, function and survival in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The neuroprotective effect of 5,6,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavanone (TMF) from Chormolaela odorata extract on brain degeneration and amyloidogenesis has previously been demonstrated. However, the mechanistic evidence for TMF's effects is still unclear. In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effect of TMF in Aβ_25-35-induced toxicity in SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells. Herein, we demonstrated that TMF exhibited potent antioxidant activity and significantly increased cell viability and decreased ROS production in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, TMF reversed the effect of Aβ_25-35, which caused energy deprivation and apoptosis, by decreasing the ratio of Bax/Bcl-x_L and reducing mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ_m), caspase-3 expression, apoptotic cells, and attenuating glucose transporter (Glut-3) expression. In addition, TMF protected against Aβ_25-35-induced cellular senescence by attenuating β-galactosidase, p-21 and p-53 expression and promoted the expression of Sirt-1 and p-Rb. In addition, the effects of TMF on Aβ_25-35 toxicity were related to the upregulation of phase II antioxidant and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) signaling, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), heme oxygenase (HO)-1, and nuclear translocation of Nrf2. Finally, we also found that TMF attenuated Aβ_25-35-reduced synaptic plasticity by increasing the expression of synaptophysin and PSD-95, which was correlated with a decrease in acetylcholine esterase (AChE). Importantly, we found that the protective effects of TMF on Aβ_25-35 were bidirectional, including marked inhibition of NADPH oxidase (NOX)-4 activity and partial activation of Sirt-1, which occurred prior to a reduction in the negative responses. Therefore, TMF may be useful for treating Aβ toxicity in AD.

The neuroprotective attribution of Ocimum basilicum: a review on the prevention and management of neurodegenerative disorders

Background

Bioactive principles from various natural resources including medicinal herbs have always played a crucial role in healthcare settings and increasingly became key players in drug discovery and development for many biopharmaceutical applications. Additionally, natural products (NPs) have immense arrangement of distinctive chemical structures with diverse functional groups that motivated numerous investigators including synthetic chemists to discover new therapeutic entities. Numerous pre-clinical investigations involving the animal models have evident the usefulness of these NPs against various human diseases including neurodegenerative disorders (NDs).

Main text

Ocimum basilicum Linn (O. basilicum L.), also known as sweet basil, is well practiced in traditional healthcare systems and has been used to treat various human illnesses, which include malaria, skin disease, diarrhea, bronchitis, dysentery, arthritis, eye diseases, and insect bites and emphasize the significance of the ethno-botanical approach as a potential source of novel drug leads With the growing interest in advanced techniques, herbal medicine and medicinal plants explorations are still considered to be a novel resource for new pharmacotherapeutic discovery and development. O. basilicum L and its bioactive principles including apigenin, eugenol, myretenal, β-sitosterol, luteolin, rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, essential oil (EO)-rich phenolic compounds, and others like anthocyanins and flavones could be of therapeutic values in NDs by exhibiting their neuro-protective efficacy on various signaling pathways. The present comprehensive review collected various related information using the following searching engines such as PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, etc. and focused mainly the English written documents. The search period comprised of last two decades until present.

Conclusion

Although these efficacious plant genera of prime importance and has potential medical and socioeconomic importance, yet the pivotal evidence for its neuroprotective potential in novel clinical trials remains lacking. However, with the available wealth of obtainable literature on this medicinal plant, which supports this review and concludes that O. basilicum L may function as a promising therapeutics for the treatment of NDs.

Therapeutic Promises of Medicinal Plants in Bangladesh and Their Bioactive Compounds against Ulcers and Inflammatory Diseases

When functioning properly, the stomach is the center of both physical and mental satisfaction. Gastrointestinal disorders, or malfunctioning of the stomach, due to infections caused by various biological entities and physiochemical abnormalities, are now widespread, with most of the diseases being inflammatory, which, depending on the position and degree of inflammation, have different names such as peptic or gastric ulcers, irritable bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis, and so on. While many synthetic drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are now extensively used to treat these diseases, their harmful and long-term side effects cannot be ignored. To treat these diseases safely and successfully, different potent medicinal plants and their active components are considered game-changers. In consideration of this, the present review aimed to reveal a general and comprehensive updated overview of the anti-ulcer and anti-inflammatory activities of medicinal plants. To emphasize the efficacy of the medicinal plants, various bioactive compounds from the plant extract, their experimental animal models, and clinical trials are depicted.

The anticancer activity of ethanol extract of Chromolaena odorata leaves in 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in (DMBA) induced breast cancer Wistar rats (Rattus novergicus)

Background: Breast cancer chemotherapy with standard drugs such as doxorubicin will induce cardiotoxicity. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the anticancer activity of C. odorata leaves extract in DMBA induced breast cancer on rats.

Methods: Seven groups of Rattus novergicus were used: Four treatment groups of C. odorata extract (500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg/kg BW), normal control, breast cancer control, and doxorubicin treatment group. The number, volume, and weight of the nodule and the rats’ body weight were compared among groups. Data was analyzed using paired t-test or one-way ANOVA with post hoc analysis as appropriate.

Results: Significant decline of the number, volume, and weight of cancer nodules was observed in the treatment group (p &lt; 0.001). The weight of the cancer nodule at week 16th was also significantly reduced in GCo2000 compared to Gdoxo (p &lt; 0.0001). A significant increase in body weight was also dose-dependent, especially at week 11th (p &lt; 0.05 in all comparisons) and week 16th (p &lt; 0.001 in all comparisons).

Conclusion: This study suggested that the ethanol extract of C. odorata leaves has anticancer and antiproliferative activity.

Traditional medicinal plants used by the Mon people in Myanmar

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Myanmar's Mon people largely depend on a traditional medical system for health care, however, information about their medical plants is rare in the current literature. In this first ethnobotanical study of Mon traditional medicinal plants (MTMs), we attempt to answer three research questions: 1) What species are used as MTMs by the Mon people and what diseases can be treated with these MTMs? 2) What are the general characteristics of these MTMs? 3) Which species and their usages have high consensus of knowledge?

AIM OF THE STUDY

We aimed (1) to document both the diversity of medicinal plants used by the Mon people and their knowledge of the therapeutic usages of these plants; and (2) to quantitatively identify the most well-known medicinal plant species and prevalent diseases treated by these species, and to evaluate the status of scientific research and application for each of these species.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethnobotanical surveys and interviews were carried out in 10 villages in four townships of Mon State, Myanmar in 2018. Data were collected from interviews with 131 informants, chosen via the snowball sampling method. Therapeutic uses of medicinal plants were categorized according to the ICPC-2 standard. Voucher specimens of plant species were collected and identified by experts. To evaluate the consensus of knowledge, we applied use reports (URs) using the R package of ethnobotanyR.

RESULTS

In total, we recorded 158 medicinal plant species belonging to 64 families as being used by the Mon people, with 13 species being newly recorded as medicinal plants in Myanmar. The people listed 78 therapeutic uses for these plants, which could be classified into 16 ICPC-2 disease categories. Digestive, urological and respiratory diseases ranked as the most prevalent diseases based on use reports. Fabaceae was the most represented family and the leaf was the most commonly used plant part. Decoction and oral administration ranked top in preparation and administration methods, respectively. Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr, the introduced species Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King & H. Rob., Mimosa pudica L., Tadehagi triquetrum (L.) H. Ohashi, and Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC were the five most cited medicinal plant species, and were used to treat dysuria, cuts and wounds, cough, diabetes and gall stones respectively, with high consensus.

CONCLUSION

The Mon people of Myanmar have a rich and diverse knowledge of traditional medicinal plants. The list of medicinal plants in Myanmar can be renewed, with the addition of 13 species. MTMs still function as an important component of the health care of the Mon people in Myanmar, and a systematic documentation of the local knowledge of MTMs would be of great value in the future. Resource monitoring, phytochemical and pharmacological research and evidence-based drug development are suggested to promote the use of MTMs and aid drug discovery.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of 18 Plants from the Erkowit Region, Eastern Sudan

We investigated the antioxidant potential and cytotoxicity towards human CCRF-CEM leukemia cells of 57 extracts obtained from 18 plants collected in the Erkowit region, eastern Sudan. The antioxidant activity was determined by measuring the radical scavenging effects against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylendiamine (DMPD), metal-chelation capacity, ferric-reducing (FRAP) and phosphomolibdenum-reducing antioxidant power (PRAP) methods using ELISA microtiter assays. Total phenol and flavonoid amounts of the extracts were determined spectrophotometrically. Cytotoxicity towards CCRF-CEM cells was evaluated by the resazurin reduction assay. Geranium favosum followed by Kalanchoe glaucescens, Malva parviflora, Aizoon canariense, and Coleus barbatus, respectively, possessed the highest antioxidant activity among the studied plants. Chrozophora oblongifolia and K. glaucescens exerted considerable cytotoxicity against CCRF-CEM leukemia cells. These plants may serve as source for the further development of natural antioxidant and antitumor agents.