title: Biological activity of common mullein, a medicinal plant.
abstract: Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus L., Scrophulariaceae) is a medicinal plant that has been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, asthma, spasmodic coughs, diarrhea and other pulmonary problems. The objective of this study was to assess the biological activity of Common Mullein extracts and commercial Mullein products using selected bench top bioassays, including antibacterial, antitumor, and two toxicity assays--brine shrimp and radish seed. Extracts were prepared in water, ethanol and methanol. Antibacterial activity (especially the water extract) was observed with Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced tumors in potato disc tissue were inhibited by all extracts. Toxicity to Brine Shrimp and to radish seed germination and growth was observed at higher concentrations of the extracts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology and Physiology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0377, USA.
authors.forename: Arzu Ucar
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Turker
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Camper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001156:Artemia; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D032265:Verbascum
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts