Antifungal, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity activities of three varieties of labisia pumila benth: from microwave obtained extracts.
BACKGROUND
Labisia pumila, locally known as Kacip Fatimah, is a forest-floor plant that has tremendous potential in the herbal industry. It is one of the five herbal plants identified by the government as one of the national key economic areas to be developed for commercial purposes. There are three varieties of L. pumila namely, L. pumila var. pumila, L. pumila var. alata and L. pumila var. lanceolata and each has its own use.


METHODS
The leaves and roots of the three varieties of L. pumila Benth. were extracted using microwave assisted extraction (MAE). Antifungal activity of all plant extracts were characterized against Fusarium sp., Candida sp. and Mucor using the agar diffusion disc. Anti-inflammatory assays were performed using NO production by macrophage RAW 264.7 cell lines induced by LPS/IFN-g and cytotoxic activity was determined using several cancer cell lines and one normal cell line.


RESULTS
The overall result demonstrated that leaf and root extracts of all three varieties of L. pumila exhibited moderate to appreciable antifungal activity against Fusarium sp., Candida sp. and Mucor compared to streptomycin used as positive control. Leaf and root extracts of all varieties significantly decreased NO release. However, the root extracts showed higher activity compared to the leaf extracts. Cytotoxic activity against MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and Chang cell lines were observed with all extracts.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest the potential use of L. pumila Benth. as a natural medicine and indicated the possible application of this medicinal plant such anti inflammatory activity and cytotoxic agents.
Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400 UPM, Malaysia. Ehsan_b_karimi@yahoo.com
Ehsan
E
Karimi
Hawa Z E
HZ
Jaafar
Syahida
S
Ahmad
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D018517:Plant Roots; D029623:Primulaceae / Q000145:classification; D013045:Species Specificity; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000494:pharmacology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013307:Streptomycin