Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of Mahanintangtong and its constituent herbs, a formula used in Thai traditional medicine for treating pharyngitis

Background

Mahanintangtong is listed in the Thailand’s National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). It is used to treat non-specific fevers and illnesses such as pharyngitis and chickenpox. In this study, we investigated the biological activities of the different medicinal plants used in the Mahanintangtong formula.

Methods

The plant materials were extracted by maceration and decoction. Antimicrobial activity, assessed by disc diffusion method, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were compared with commercially available standard antibiotics. To elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms, inhibition of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) production was tested by Griess and ELISA techniques. Antioxidant activity was measured by ABTS and DPPH scavenging assays.

Results

The extracts with the best antimicrobial activities were carbonized Tectona grandis showing against Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The ethanol extract of Dracaena loureiroi wood exhibited the highest NO and IL-6 inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 9.42 ± 1.81 and 12.02 ± 0.30 μg/mL, respectively. The ethanol extract of Pogostemon cablin had the highest TNF-α inhibitory with IC₅₀ values of 10.68 ± 0.02 μg/mL. In anti-free radical testing, the ethanol extract of D. loureiroi displayed high antioxidant activity by both ABTS and DPPH assays.

Conclusion

The ethanol extracts from carbonized T. grandis and Mahanintangtong showed good antimicrobial activity, especially against S. pyogenes, and good anti-inflammatory activity. These findings are relevant to the pathogenesis of pharyngitis and justify additional studies to see if Mahanintangtong could have clinical utility.

Cytotoxicity to Five Cancer Cell Lines of the Respiratory Tract System and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Thai Traditional Remedy

A Thai traditional remedy called Benchalokawichian (BLW) consists of 5 plant species, Ficus racemosa, Capparis micracantha, Clerodendrum petasites, Harrisonia perforata, and Tiliacora triandra. It has long been used in Thai traditional medicine to reduce fever in respiratory tract infection, but there is no report on either cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines of the respiratory tract system or anti-inflammatory effect. Thus, the objectives of this research were to investigate the cytotoxic activity of the ethanolic and water extracts of BLW, its single plant ingredients and its isolated compounds against 5 cancer cell lines of the respiratory tract, by SRB assay. Anti-inflammatory activity of all extracts and compounds was also tested by using lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells. The main compounds were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography and compared with BLW and plant ingredients. A major compound of BLW and H. perforata ethanolic extracts is perforatic acid, which inhibited the growth of 2 lung cancer cell lines, A549 and H226, with IC50 values of 6.7 and 13.2 µg/mL. The ethanolic extract of BLW and T. triandra showed cytotoxic activity against all cancer cell lines with IC50 values in the range of 10.1 to 45.2 µg/mL. In contrast, all EtOH extracts showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity, but the water extract had no inhibitory effect on either activity. Pectolinarigenin and O-methyllaloptaeroxyrin, 2 minor compounds, exhibited NO inhibitory effect with IC50 values of 7.1 and 7.9 µg/mL, respectively, whereas perforatic acid was inactive (>50 µg/mL). Moreover, pectolinarigenin showed high cytotoxic activity against all cancer cell lines of the respiratory system with IC50 values in the range of 1.9 to 9.1 µg/mL. As a result, these 2 minor compounds can be used as markers for quality control of BLW for anti-inflammatory activity. Perforatic acid and pectolinarigenin are of interest for further study on their cytotoxic mechanism. Remarkably, T. triandra, one of the plant components of BLW, is possibly the source of the active cytotoxic compounds.

Antioxidant activities and phytochemical constituents of Antidesma thwaitesianum Müll. Arg. leaf extracts

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the antioxidant activities as well as phytochemical constituents of Antidesma thwaitesianum Müll. Arg. leaf extracts.

METHODS

The leaves of A. thwaitesianum were extracted using three different methods: blending with distilled water, maceration with ethanol and decoction. The chemical antioxidant activity of the plant leaf extracts was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS⁺) radical scavenging assays, as well as the ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. Cellular antioxidant activity was determined by superoxide and nitric oxide scavenging assays. The cytotoxicity of the leaf extracts in RAW 264.7 and differentiated HL-60 cells was tested in parallel using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium assays, respectively. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also assessed by spectrophotometric analysis. Phytochemical constituents of the most potent extract were investigated by liquid chromatography with an electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS).

RESULTS

The ethanolic (ME) and decoction (LW) extracts of dried leaves had the highest chemical scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS⁺ free radicals with half maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) values ranging from 3.54 to 6.44 μg/mL. ME and LW exerted moderate ferric reducing activity, with ferric reducing antioxidant power values of 847.41 and 941.26 mg Fe²⁺/g extract, respectively. Similarly, ME showed potent cellular scavenging activity against superoxide and nitric oxide radicals with EC₅₀ values of 58.12 and 71.90 μg/mL, respectively. However, LW exhibited only strong nitric oxide scavenging activity with an EC₅₀ value of 91.20 μg/mL. The cell viability of RAW 264.7 and HL-60 cells was greater than 70% in all tested concentrations of both extracts, thus confirming the absence of their cytotoxicity. ME and LW contained high total phenolic contents of 231.14 and 274.42 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram, respectively, as well as high total flavonoid contents of 18.82 and 22.17 mg quercetin equivalents per gram, respectively. LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of 52 structurally characterized compounds in ME, 43 of which were tentatively identified. Hydroxycinnamic acids such as caffeic acid and its derivatives were the predominant phenolic compounds.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report describing potent chemical and cellular antioxidant effects of the ethanolic leaf extract of A. thwaitesianum. The extract contained high total phenolic and flavonoid contents. LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis further revealed an abundance of caffeic acid derivatives and flavonoids. These data support its potential use as dietary supplements in oxidative stress prevention.

Cytotoxic, Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Heliotropium indicum Extracts

BACKGROUND

Heliotropium indicum Linn., or ‘Indian heliotrope’ is very common in India with a long history of traditional medicinal uses in many countries in the world. In Thailand, the plant has been traditionally use to cure various diseases such as fever, insect bites, stings, diarrhea, skin rashes, menstrual disorder and urticaria. In addition, the plant is commonly used by Thai folk doctors as a component in remedies for treatment of lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE

In the present study, we investigated cytotoxicity against two types of lung cancer cell lines (A549 and NCI-H226), anti-inflammatory effect and antioxidant activity of Heliotropium indicum extracts.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The water and ethanolic extracts of Heliotropium indicum were tested. The cytotoxic activity against two types of human lung cancer cell lines (A549 and NCI-H226) was evaluated by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The antiinflammatory effect was investigated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production was determined by Griess reagent. The antioxidant activity was performed by 1, 1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method.

RESULTS

The ethanolic extract showed cytotoxic activity only against NCI-H226 (IC50 = 51.90±2.35 μg/ml) whereas the water extract had no cytotoxic activity against both A549 and NCI-H226 (IC50 >100 μg/ml). For anti-inflammatory effect, the results revealed that the ethanolic extract exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production (IC50 = 24.17±2.12 μg/ml), followed by Indomethacin (positive control) with an IC50 value of 34.67±6.23 μg/ml while water extract was apparently inactive (IC50 >100 μg/ml). For antioxidant activity, the ethanolic extract showed high antioxidant activity (EC50 = 28.91±4.26 μg/ml) but the water extract showed no antioxidant activity (EC50 >100 μg/ml).

CONCLUSION

These results can support using Heliotropium indicum Linn. for component in lung cancer remedy by Thai folk doctors. However, more studies are required.

Anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the different extracts of Thai traditional remedy called prabchompoothaweep for allergic rhinitis treatment

BACKGROUND

Prabchompoothaweep remedy (PT) has long been used in Thai traditional medicine to treat allergic rhinitis and asthma. It is composed of 23 plants. It is on National herbal drug list of Thailand, but there is no reportfor anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the crude extract from PTby different extraction method.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The method of extract used was maceration in 95% ethanol and 50% ethanol; the residue of these extracts were continued extracted by boiling water, they obtained PTE95, PTE50, PTR95 andPTR50, respectively. The other method of extraction was boiling and drying by lyophilizer that obtained PTW Five crude extracts were determined anti- allergic activity by the inhibition of β-hexosaminidase release from RBL-2H3 cell lines, anti-inflammatory activity were determined by the inhibition ofnitric oxide (NO) production from RA W264. 7 cell lines induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and antioxidant activity were tested by DPPH radical scavenging assay.

RESULTS

PTE95 showed the most potent ofanti-allergic activity, anti-inflammatory activity and antioxidant activity (IC5 = 12.97, 22.51 and EC50 = 14.62 μg/ml, respectively).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the method of extraction PT that showed the best anti-allergy, anti-inflamation and antioxidant activity was maceration in 95% ethanol.

Development and validation of RP-HPLC method to determine anti-allergic compound in Thai traditional remedy called Benjalokawichien

Benjalokawichien (BLW) or Ya-Ha-Rak (HR) is a traditional remedy in the Nationaldrug list of herbal medicinal products AD 2012 of Thailand. For traditional use, BLW is used as antipyretic agent. It also has anti-allergic effect, particularly treating allergic rash. The ethanolic extract of BLW exhibited anti-allergic activity via inhibitory effect against a release ofbeta-hexosaminidase in RBL-2H3 cell line. Pectolinarigenin has been identified as the active compound ofBLW extract. In this study, a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed in order to control quality ofpreparation in three aspects such as chemical fingerprint, quantification and stability of the ethanolic extract. The RP-HPLC was performed with a gradient mobile phase composed of 0.1% ortho phosphoric acid and acetronitrile, and peaks were detected at 331 nm. Based on validation results, this analytical method is precise, accurate and stable for quantitative determination ofpectolinarigenin. The amount ofpectolinarigenin in Benjalokawichien extract determined by this method was 18.50 mg/g ofextract. Therefore, this method could be consideredfor quality control ofBLWextract.